With caps for Argentina under his belt (he was one of the players who failed to stop a rampaging Michael Owen at the 1998 World Cup), and an ageing Nigel Winterburn begging to be replaced, Vivas arrived at the club with the potential to be a long-term first-teamer.
Yet in his three years at the club he only started 14 Premier League games and was loaned to Celta Vigo before eventually being released.