Balic's Basque baptism

Real Sociedad coach John Toshack is keen to take Bosnian striker Elvir Baljic off Real Madrid's hands reports from Spain are indicating.

Tosh is one of Baljic's ardent fans having signed the player whilst he was in charge at Real Madrid nearly two years ago.

But Baljic failed to impress at the Bernabeu and was loaned out to Fernabahce after one injury-dogged season.

Now that the loan period is about to end, Baljic is keen to have a second crack in the Spanish Liga and may be tempted by a spell in Tosh's Txuri Urdin side.

Real Madrid have made it clear that interested clubs must find a figure of around $US 23m.