MELBOURNE Victory could look to shore up its shaky defence by re-signing former championship
-winning centre back Adrian Leijer from English Premier League side Fulham.
Leijer, who played in Victory's first title success in 2006-07, joined the London club at
the end of that campaign but has had a nightmare two years in West London.
He has not played for the first team and the only senior action he has had in the last
year or two has been a couple of games for Norwich, who were relegated from the
Championship last season.
It is understood that agents were negotiating overnight with Fulham to try to bring the tall centre-half back to Melbourne, where he launched his career.
Victory could certainly use him, given the club's defensive frailties
since it lost influential captain Kevin Muscat for up to six weeks with a hamstring
injury.
While it is likely Melbourne would hold the whip hand in wooing Leijer back,
other clubs might also make a play for the Olyroo defender who would bring height
and strength to any A- League defence.
Victory could travel to Townsville to take
on North Queensland Fury this weekend with a man who has not played a full A-League
game for more than a season and an 18-year-old university student who turned professional
only this week as key defensive options.