Fiorentina’s Nikola Kalinic had been linked with a January transfer to both West Ham United and Aston Villa – but Spanish outfit Valencia now look set to swoop.
Former Premier League forward Nikola Kalinic, recently linked with a return to English football with West Ham United and Championship side Aston Villa, is the subject of a reported January bid from La Liga side Valencia.
According to Spanish media source Superdeporte, Kalinic has emerged as one of Valencia’s top transfer targets, following talks between owner Peter Lim and coach Cesare Prandelli.
It appears that, after a period of drafting a list of potential transfer moves, both Lim and Prandelli have agreed that Kalinic is a preferred target as their search for a centre-forward who can hold the ball intensifies.
Adding further fuel to the transfer link, Kalinic’s agent Fali Ramadani was reportedly in Valencia prior to the Christmas period, according to Super Deporte.
Kalinic, 28, has scored 20 league goals in just over 50 appearances for current side Fiorentina – a feat that may be influential in Valencia’s willingness to accommodate financial control limits in order to push through a potential deal for the Croatian international.
West Ham United have been fairly transparent with their hopes of signing a forward in January – and considering their lack of goal-getters at present, it could prove that compatriot, West Ham boss Slaven Bilic, may well be the manager most perturbed by the Kalinic to Valencia link.
Indeed, the London side have seemingly struggled to attract that sought-after centre forward in recent months – with a plethora of big name strikers such as AC Milan’s Carlos Bacca (Daily Mail), linked, but not inked, to West Ham this season.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa’s Steve Bruce has the relative luxury of calling upon forwards Jonathan Kodjia, Ross McCormack, Jordan Ayew, Rudy Gestede and Gabriel Agbonlahor for firepower in the final third.
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