Dani poses serious threat to Chelsea

Dani's career path is easy to reel off: Real Madrid, Real Zaragoza, Real Madrid, Real Mallorca. Next season, however, there is a real chance that the lanky striker will be playing in the Premiership.

According to sources here, Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday last month lodged offers of about £4.5 million for his services. Chelsea were also sniffing around. Well they might, for Daniel Garcia Lara is the reason why Gianluca Vialli's side face such a huge task in overcoming Real Mallorca in tonight's Cup Winners' Cup semi-final return leg.

Premiership clubs were well aware of the Spaniard's talents long before he arrived in Britain for the first leg two weeks ago, even if the public knew little more about him than that he was not the Dani who played for West Ham.But 31 minutes into that tie at Stamford Bridge Chelsea fans caught up with what their club already knew: Dani is a striker with devastating touch, pace and precision.

Running on to a superb through-ball, he rounded the onrushing Ed de Goey and fired the ball deftly into the back of the net.

Chelsea eventually clawed back an equaliser but that away goal could become the stone in the shoe that cripples the London side's chances of retaining this trophy. "Chelsea will have to take the initiative tonight," says Dani, "with all the risk that implies."

Dani arrived at Mallorca after a second frustrating spell at Real Madrid, whom he originally joined as a 16-year-old. His first, five-year stay was characterised by two failures: he was unable to climb sufficiently high in the strikers' pecking order and he failed a drug test. It turned out to be a cold cure, so there was no punishment.

The following year he joined Real Zaragoza, where he demonstrated his versatility by playing up front and as the linkman between midfield and attack. But in July 1997 he returned to Madrid, though once again he saw most games from a bench, either pitchside or in the stand.

However, his move to the holiday island of Majorca has worked wonders and the 24-year-old is playing some of the best football of his life, even making his international debut against Italy last November.

The superb organisation and hard running of Hector Cuper's small-town team have left them pushing for a Champions League spot in the Spanish first division as well as vying for the Cup Winners' Cup. And Dani is enjoying every minute.

Vialli just hopes that his team, minus any injury worries, can put their recent Premiership stumble behind them tonight. "We need a very positive reaction," he says. "A great team must have that mentality."

However, Chelsea are not a great team yet. And a hint of defeatism crept in when the manager added: "I don't think you are a successful team only if you get some silverware."

Probable Teams

Mallorca: Roa; Olaizola, Elena, Siviero, Soler; Etame-Mayer, Engonga, Stankovic, Paunovic; Dani, Biagini.

Chelsea: De Goey; Ferrer, Leboeuf, Desailly; Petrescu, Di Matteo, Morris, Wise, Le Saux; Flo, Zola