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Swansea and Cardiff face battle with Rubin Kazan for Espanyol's Hector Moreno
WELSH sides Swansea and Cardiff face a battle to sign Espanyol defender Hector Moreno after Rubin Kazan made a bid for the Mexican international.
Reports in Spain had suggested that both Swansea and Cardiff had made offers for the 25-year-old, with the Bluebird's bid thought to be in the region of £4m.
Espanyol initially denied that they had received a bid for the player and stated that they considered the player "untouchable", but there were also reports that the Barcelona-based club were holding out for a fee of £8m.
And now Rubin Kazan have tested Espanyol's resolve by making a £6m bid for Moreno, with president Joan Collet confirming that a bid had been received from the Russian club.
Speaking about Rubin Kazan's interest, Moreno's agent, Jan van Baal, said: “We’re ready to initiate negotiations, as soon as the two clubs reach an agreement between themselves.”
Moreno moved to Europe from Pumas in his homeland, joining Holland's AZ Alkmaar in 2007, before making the move to Spain with Espanyol in 2011.
Moreno quickly became a mainstay at the heart of the Espanyol defense, being voted the club's Player of the Year in his first season, and is a favourite of current coach and fellow Mexican Javier Aguirre.
Cardiff's interest in Moreno may have waned following the arrival of Steven Caulker last week, but it now seems that both they and Swansea will have to compete with the ambitious Russian club, who already feature Liverpool target Salomon Rondon and French international Yann M'Vila, who was once linked with Arsenal, if they remain serious about acquiring Moreno.