KIEV FOUGHT OFF PERUGIA FILIMONOV BID

At a iynamo press conference to unveil the goalkeeper, vice president at the Ukraine club Ihor Surkis, revealed that they had fought off a late bid from Italy.

"I want to stress that Filimonov had an offer from Italian side Perugia," said Surkis.

"But the club management, and me personally persuaded him to come to Kiev."

Surkis also broadly hinted that Milan were ready to loan either unsettled keeper Sebastiano Rossi or banned Brazilian Dida to the club if they had failed to land Filimonov.

"As you know Dinamo and Milan have a very good relationship," admitted Surkis.

"I called Silvio Berlusconi and, if Filimonov had declined our offer, Milan were ready to send one of their goalkeepers over.

"I will not mention his name, as such a transfer did not happen."

Reports in the Ukraine suggest that Rossi was the player set to make the trip, although it seems more likely that in fact Dida would have been farmed out.

The South American is currently banned from Italian football for one year because he was discovered to be holding a false EU passport, but is allowed to play outside of the country.