FC Basel will lose their regular goalie during the coming season. The Swiss side have agreed to loan Pascal "Zubi" Zuberbühler to the Bundesliga runners-up, Bayer Leverkusen.

But fans will not be waving a final farewell to the nine times Swiss international. He'll start the season with Basel, playing in their first three league games, before joining Leverkusen. He'll stay with the German side until June 30 2001, before returning to Basel.

The move gives "Zubi" the chance to fulfil a childhood dream. He'll be able to prove his abilities in one of Europe's top leagues and he'll get the chance to perform on one of the world's most competitive soccer stages, the Champions League, for which the German side has qualified.

Leverkusen had been hoping to sign the Hamburg keeper, Hans-Jörg Butt for the upcoming season. However, his current club refused an 11 million mark offer, and Leverkusen will have to wait until July next year, when Butt's contract runs out.

Basel are said to be interested in having the ex-Swiss international, Philipp Walker, fill in for "Zubi" while he's away on loan.

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