Aimar completes Benfica switch

Premier League duo miss out on Argentina ace

Last updated: 17th July 2008

Pablo Aimar Real Zaragoza

Aimar: Benfica move

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Newcastle and Everton have missed out on Pablo Aimar after the Argentina international completed a move to Benfica.

The Premier League duo had been linked with a swoop for the talented midfielder following Real Zaragoza's relegation at the end of last season.

But Aimar, nicknamed 'The Clown', has put pen to paper on a four-year contract with the Portuguese side after they agreed a €7.5million (£6million) fee with Zaragoza.

The move will come as a major blow to the Magpies, who had high hopes of bringing the creative Aimar to St James' Park.

Sparse

And Toon goalkeeper Steve Harper has admitted that they are in need of some new faces - to lift the club, and fill their new dressing room.

Harper told the Daily Mirror: "We're pretty depleted. We've lost four or five players and the dressing room is pretty sparse.

"We've got a nice new dressing room and there are a lot of empty spaces, so it would be nice to see those filled up.

"We've still got a few weeks to do that, and of course we want to see new arrivals. We were maybe two or three short last year, given the injuries we had and we've lost three or four.

"I'm sure the manager and those upstairs are working hard behind the scenes to bring in the people we need because new faces would give everyone, players and fans alike, a big lift."