Arsenal to spy on Georgian keeper as Seaman replacement

Arsenal's search for a long term replacement for veteran goalkeeper David Seaman is set to take a scout to Georgia to watch Lokomotiv Tbilisi's Giorgi Lomaia it was revealed.

The 22-year-old Georgian international is due to win his fifth cap for Georgia in their vital Euro 2004 qualifier with Russia on Wednesday and his club's technical director Eduard Sanaia told the BBC website there would be a representative from Arsenal watching him.

However Sanaia admitted there had been no formal talks between Lokomotiv and the reigning English Premiership champions, though the Gunners had been impressed enough by the videotapes sent to them by Lomaia's agent.

"We will be pleased to let him go to the club he chooses. He was not interested in the offers from Russia and Ukraine," Sanaia said.

Sanaia emphasised that making a profit was not the club's priority rather that the player be happy wherever he ended up.

"The money is not the issue. We do not want to sell him for profit. Our aim is for him to be happy and satisfied with the new club," Sanaia said.

Lomaia started his career with FC Kodako in 1995 but soon moved to Dinamo Tbilisi.

He also had a short spell with FC Merani-91, before moving to Lokomotiv.

One barrier to Lomaia's joining Arsenal would be in securing a work permit because he has not played in 75 percent of Georgia's games over the last two years.

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