Spanish club Valencia have confirmed Villa have tabled a bid for their £5m-rated giant striker Nikola Zigic.
The 6ft 7in forward is the latest player targeted by Martin O’Neill, in a summer where the Villa boss plans a major revamp of his squad.
According to the La Liga outfit Zigic, who has been described as Serbia’s answer to Peter Crouch, is currently weighing up Villa’s offer with a decision to be made in the next few days.
Valencia sporting director Juan Sanchez said: “The player and his agent know about the offer and we expect them to make a decision in the coming days.”
The cash-strapped Spanish side are keen to offload the Serbian international, who has been told he has no future at La Mestalla under new coach Unai Emery, just a year after he arrived for a reported £16m.
It is not the first time Zigic, who made his name with Red Star Belgrade and then Racing Santander, has been linked with a move to England.
Ironically, Crouch’s new club Portsmouth attempted to sign him on loan in the January transfer window but the 27-year-old turned down a move.
Tottenham, Blackburn and West Ham, as well as Italian giants Juventus, are among the other sides who were previously interested.
Zigic would provide Villa with another threat from their renowned set-piece expertise and could form a formidable front pairing alongside John Carew, or be used as an understudy for the Norwegian, who was on target in Saturday’s Intertoto Cup 2-2 draw with Odense BK.
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