Escriba to coach Gerafe

Former Elche coach Fran Escriba was presented to the public and press as the new first team coach of Spanish football club Getafe on Tuesday.

It will be Escriba's second spell at Getafe as the man who made his name in taking Elche to La Liga and keeping them there for two seasons only for the club to then be relegated for its debts, worked as an assistant to Quique Sanchez Flores when Getafe were first promoted to the Spanish top flight in 2004, reports Xinhua.

"I want to get the fans on board as soon as possible and we want Getafe to grow both as an institution and in sporting terms and so we need the fans to be close," said Escriba, who said he had not spoken to Flores, who himself had a short second spell at Getafe last season and is now at Watford.

Elsewhere, Espanyol President Joan Collet has confirmed that Real Madrid have re-signed winger Lucas Vazquez after a season on loan with the Barcelona based club. Collet would not reveal the price but it is thought to be around a million euros, twice as much as Espanyol paid for Vazquez last season.

It is the second important departure from Espanyol in the past 24 hours and Lucas' sale follows on from the news that the club's star striker Sergio Garcia has rejected offers of a new contract to play in Qatar.

Sevilla forward Carlos Bacca is on the verge of signing for AC Milan, ending two successful seasons at the club who he helped win two Europa League titles while former Atletico Madrid defender Joao Miranda has passed his medical exam prior to joining AC's neighbours, Inter Milan.

Finally, Gorka Elustondo is expected to be announced as a new signing for Athletic Club Bilbao after ending his association with Real Sociedad following his decision to reject a new contract offer from the San Sebastian-based club.