Austrian goalkeeper Alex Manninger is disappointed that his loan move to Fiorentina in Italy is unlikely to end up in a permanent transfer.

Manninger has been a regular in Serie A this season, but the financial restraints of the Florence club mean he is probably set to return to Highbury in the summer, arsenal.com reports.

"I reached a point a year ago with Arsenal when I realised I would not be number one," Manninger says.

"However, it saddens me that in the current economic situation I couldn't stay here."

Rupe adds...
Manninger probably won't be coming back to Arsenal though, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport. Michi writes with this link to the Austrian national broadcasting, which quotes the Italian paper claim that Milan, Parma, 2 Spanish clubs, 2 German, and one French, are all interested in buying Alex.

Good luck to him.