Espanyol add Diego Lopez to ambitious project

Earlier, the Catalans sealed a season-long loan deal for Mexican international defender Diego Reyes from Porto.

Espanyol were bought by Chinese entertainment company Rastar Group in January with the ambitious target of reaching the Champions League in three years for a side that finished 13th last season.

Lopez ousted Iker Casillas to become number one at Real Madrid during Jose Mourinho's final season in the Spanish capital before moving to Italy when Carlo Ancelotti took charge at the Bernabeu in 2013.

Reyes impressed during a season-long loan at Real Sociedad last year and Espanyol have secured an option to buy the 23-year-old at the end of the campaign.

Former Watford coach Quique Sanchez Flores took charge at the Cornella El-Prat in June and has already snapped up the likes of former Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis and four-time Europa League winner Jose Antonio Reyes.

However, Espanyol have taken just one point from their opening two La Liga games as a thrilling 6-4 defeat at Sevilla was followed up by a 2-2 draw with Malaga on Friday.