Nikola Zigic: £8M Serbian 6 Ft 8 Hitman Worth a Gamble for Spurs or Arsenal?
Reports in the Spanish press suggest Valencia will sell their 6 ft 8 Serbian striker Nikola Zigic this summer with numerous Premier League clubs showing an interest. Valencia Sporting Director Fernando Gomez confirmed this, “Some clubs have already asked about his situation,” he said.
“But Zigic is interesting many clubs in Spain and abroad.”
That news is hardly surprising given the player’s superb form on loan at Racing Santander last season. The Serbian scored 13 goals in just 19 league appearances for a side that finished 12th, just four points clear of relegation. Zigic’s agent Milan Calasan told Skysports.com, “There is a lot of interest in Zigic, 10 or 15 clubs have called me about him, but I think they have been shocked by the money wanted by Valencia.
“A top German club has made a proposal for Nikola, but he does not want to go there.
“He has always said would be interested in a move to England and if he was to go there it would have to be the right club that understands his characteristics.”
The likes of Blackburn, Stoke and Aston Villa have all been linked to the Serb man mountain but Zigic’s form last season has made him hot property. The Serb joined Racing Santander on loan in January after a season and a half in the wilderness at Valencia. His form on loan has reignited his faltering career and would surely have brought the player to the attention of various clubs looking for new strikers.
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The player is of a similar mould to Portsmouth’s Peter Crouch but if anything is less lightweight. The 28-year-old had endured a torrid time since joining Valencia for a reported 15m Euros in August 2007. However, after scoring just once in 15 league games (12 starts) it would seem the club are happy to cut their losses on the forward. Zigic’s only league goal for the club came in a 2-2 at Real Zaragoza in December 2007.
It was reported that Portsmouth made a bid for the Serb in January 2008 to join the club on loan which the player himself promptly rejected. The Fratton Park club’s interest in the player has since ended following Crouch’s arrival although various other clubs will be seriously looking at the player. Harry Redknapp is obviously an admirer and he has been chasing a target man since joining Tottenham with Kenwyne Jones a failed target in January. Zigic would be a far cheaper and proven alternative than the £15m rated Black Cats star.
New Sunderland manager Steve Bruce is also interested but is focusing his attention on Peter Crouch as he looks to cure a lack of firepower at the club since the departure of Djibril Cisse after his loan spell came to an end. The Black Cats have been linked to Darren Bent and more recently Robbie Keane which could result in Jones moving to White Hart Lane making Zigic a more than adequate replacement.
Zigic came to the attention of top European clubs when at Red Star Belgrade where he scored an impressive 46 goals in 79 League appearances which prompted interest from Arsenal, Portsmouth, Blackburn and West Ham. However, the player finally moved to Spanish club Racing Santander where he formed an excellent partnership with former Real Madrid star Pedro Munitis. The Serb scored 11 goals in 32 League appearances in his only season at the club before Valencia swooped.
Then there’s Arsenal, ok, the targetman is hardly your usual Arsene Wenger signing but if Emmanuel Adebayor leaves he could prove to be a potent weapon unlike any other player the club currently possesses. He could be the perfect foil for the pace of Andrey Arshavin and Theo Walcott if purchased. He would also provide the Gunners with the option of more direct attacks than the slow patient build up they generally use.
The Serbian man mountain has won 36 caps for his country (14 goals) and has won his country’s player of the year award on three separate occasions. He is a powerful forward who is strong aerially and possesses an excellent shot. His size and physique make him a potential Premier League star in the making.
So would you like your club to sign the giant Serb or would you prefer another potential target? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Arsenal, Blackburn, Nikola Zigic, Racing Santander, Serbia, Sunderland, Tottenham, Valencia
July 16th, 2009 at 20:25
Zigic will not be going to Spurs,Harry didn’t want him when he was at pompey.Harry watched the player and after the game the players agent said “5 Million wouldn’t but him” to which Harry replied I know I’m one of them !
July 20th, 2009 at 02:19
Sure he looks like Crouch but unlike the stork, Zigic has some ball skills.
Crouch is like the giant kid who plays basketball just because he is 2m10.
The guy is made for british football but I dont disagree that he could fit in with Arsenal having seen him play with Racing which isnt your kick and rush team and with the serb selection.
He;s not Arsene’s type of players but could be a great complement to the players they have.
Like I said, he’s not just a freak of nature.