BBC SPORT | Football | Berti says yes to Livi

Former Argentina World Cup star Sergio Berti has agreed to join Livingston, according to the club.

And they have offered deals to five other new players as they prepare for their first venture into European competition.

Livingston chairman Dominic Keane said: "We believe Berti has accepted and will be joining us for pre-season training on 26 June.

"We have made offers to five other players and we are waiting to hear from them.

We are looking at bringing in a couple of centre backs, a midfielder and two strikers

Livi chairman Dominic Keane

"There is no deadline. But if they are coming then they will come then."

Livi, who finished in third place in their first Scottish Premier League campaign, need to bolster their squad as a number of key players from last season have either left or are on the verge of doing so.

The Almondvale side raked in �1m from Celtic for the sale of David Fernandez last week and the Glasgow club are being linked with a move for Livi goalkeeper Javier Sanchez-Broto.

Livi are set to lose midfielder Quino and defender Rubio as they have turned down new contract offers.

Striker Nathan Lowndes is close to joining Plymouth Argyle, Danish defender Morten Petersen is about to return to his homeland with Brondby and defender John Anderson has been freed and is close to joining Hull City.

Keane said: "Rubio and Quino both did well for us last year and it is still not definite that they will be leaving.

"But we can't wait forever and we are pushing ahead. I think they enjoyed their spell here and we both part of a successful team.

"But they will very shortly be free agents and, if they move on, it will be with our best wishes.

"It's the nature of the business.

"We do not have a huge squad here and we have only got one centre-half.

Nathan Lowndes (right) in action for Livingston
Nathan Lowndes (right) is leaving Livi
"That's Big Marvin (Andrews) and he is also the subject of a lot of interest.

"We are looking at bringing in a couple of centre backs, a midfielder and two strikers."

Livi have agreed a deal with Plymouth to move Lowndes on and the Englishman is currently discussing the move with his family.

Petersen only joined the club six months ago but now wants to leave.

"He didn't settle and wants to play every week instead of being part of a squad," he said.

"We have agreed our side of it, so it is now up to him."

Striker David Bingham, who had appeared set to leave on a free transfer, has already pledged himself to a new deal at the club.


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