Martin O’Neill to look at Birmingham’s giant Serbian forward Nikola Zigic
Martin O’Neill’s search for a target man for his Sunderland side has led him to Birmingham’s giant Serbian forward Nikola Zigic.
The 6ft 7½ins Zigic has scored just four goals this season, but found the net in Blues’ Carling Cup final victory over Arsenal in February last year. At 31 he won’t be considered a long-term member of O’Neill’s plans, but the Northern Irishman is ready to try again for a forward he attempted to bring to Aston Villa in the summer of 2010.
Having been unimpressed with the form of Nicklas Bendtner since he arrived at the club, and with the Dane ruled out for several weeks with facial injuries in any case, O’Neill sees Zigic’s height and aerial threat as key to a side largely relying upon goals from the likes of Stephane Sessegnon, James McClean and Sebastian Larsson.
A cut-price move for the Serbian could suit all parties with Blues keen to reinvest in their squad and cut their losses on a player they paid £6m for from Valencia in May 2010.
Zigic had disappointed at Valencia following his huge £20m move there from Racing Santander in 2007, but his record of 20 goals in 57 internationals for Serbia is no mean feat, and O’Neill is keen to add experience to a front-line which is severely lacking in it.
The Sunderland boss has considered a move for the Bolton forward Kevin Davies, 34, but sees Zigic as much better value for money due to being both younger and available for around £2.5m.
O’Neill is expected to make his move for the Serbian before Tuesday night’s transfer deadline, with a deal hoped to be concluded over the weekend.
