Croatia international Nikola Kalinic has completed his move to Blackburn Rovers, according to the striker’s agent.
The 21-year-old was close to joining Portsmouth earlier in pre-season, but the deal collapsed and Rovers boss Sam Allardyce has swooped.
Allardyce, who has spent the summer searching for forwards, has previously confirmed his interest in Kalinic and he now appears to have got his man.
The Hajduk Split star’s representative, Tomislav Erceg, claims a deal has been agreed between the clubs and all that is now required is to obtain a work permit.
“It is finished, the transfer is completed. Now all Nikola needs is a work permit, which shouldn’t be problem,” Erceg told Sportske novosti.
Kalinic said: “I can at last focus on football.
“I want to begin training with my new team as soon as possible and get into top form.”
Reports say Kalinic has signed a four-year deal with Rovers, where he will be expected to replace Roque Santa Cruz following his move to Manchester City.
From Wiki:
Nikola Kalinic (born 5 January 1988 in Solin) is a Croatian football striker currently playing for Blackburn Rovers and the Croatian national team. Croatia manager Slaven Bilic has described him as “the future of Croatian football”.
On August 03, 2009 it was reported by Sky Sports News that Nikola Kalinic had signed for Rovers from Hajduk Split on a four-year deal.It is believed the signing is around the value of 6 million pounds and is currently waiting for a successful work permit application to finalise the deal.
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4 Responses to “Nikola Kalinic joins Rovers”
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June 15th, 2010 at 7:11 pm
NIKOLA Kalinic has vowed to prove he can be a Premier League success this season after insisting his first taste of English football went ‘better than expected’.
Blackburn Rovers’ £6million Croatian showed glimpses of his potential in his debut Premier League campaign but is determined to step up a level in the coming months.
The former Hajduk Split striker has already emerged as a firm fans favourite at Ewood Park, having hit seven goals in 21 starts last season, but he is confident he still has a lot more to come.
Kalinic, 22, was made to wait for a regular league starting place last season as boss Sam Allardyce refused to rush him into the first team but believes he is now ready to make a more immediate impact.
He said: “Of course I am looking forward to the new season and the chance to prove I am capable of playing in the Premier League regularly as a main striker.
“I am willing to work hard to go a step further now because I want to become the first striker at Blackburn Rovers.
“I know that will not be easy but I believe with hard work that is possible.
“That will also mean I have a better chance of becoming a regular in the national team.
“I am grateful for the chance Blackburn have given me and will keep looking to repay their faith.”
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8218833.Blackburn_Rovers_striker__My_best_is_yet_to_come/?ref=mr
June 26th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
MR Blackburn Rovers Tony Parkes has tipped Ewood Park’s young guns for future World Cup glory – but warns their best route to success is to remain in East Lancashire.
Parkes, who enjoyed a 34-year career at Rovers as player, coach and caretaker boss, has identified Martin Olsson, Nikola Kalinic, Phil Jones and Steven Nzonzi as all having bright international futures but fears any ‘rash moves’ to the game’s bigger clubs could quickly halt their progress.
He describes their progress in their first full Premier League seasons as ‘exciting’ but insists they are in exactly the right place to ensure they fulfil their potential.
Parkes said: “If you are a young kid and you can get yourself playing regularly in a Premier League team then you do have a great chance of making a name for yourself on the world stage.
“It is very tough to establish yourself as a Premier League regular at any level but I really do believe that Rovers have the rare luxury of having a handful who could do that at the club.
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8240310.Parkes__Blackburn_Rovers_aces_can_be_World_Cup_stars/
July 10th, 2010 at 9:22 am
PAUL Warhurst believes this will prove to be a ‘big season’ for Rovers’ Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic after insisting it can take time to make it in the Premier League.
Kalinic‘s debut season in the English top-flight last time round provided glimpses of the potential that saw Rovers splash out £6million for him last summer but – with just two league goals to his name so far – he will be out with a point to prove this campaign.
The Croatian is expected to lead the line for some of today’s opening pre-season friendly against Sturm Graz in Austria and, with Sam Allardyce’s efforts in the transfer market continually frust-rated, a lot of respon-sibility will fall on his shoulders in terms of fire power. Former Rover Warhurst though has witnessed at first hand a number of Sam Allardyce’s past foreign imports come good after a ‘settling in’ period and sees no reason why Kalinic can’t follow suit.
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8265044.Warhurst_tips_Nik_for_glory/?ref=mr
July 13th, 2010 at 8:14 pm
NIKOLA Kalinic can’t wait for the next chapter of his Premier League adventure after hailing the success of Blackburn Rovers’ Austrian ‘boot camp from hell’.
Rovers’ Croatian striker was part of Sam Allardyce’s squad which toiled in the near 40-degree Celsius heat to a 0-0 draw at Sturm Graz in Saturday’s pre-season opener – but insists the week away will prove the perfect preparation.
The squad spent a week at their altitude training camp in Austria, the same place that England prepared for their World Cup campaign, where every player was put through an intense training programme, including strict diets.
The squad report back for training at their Brockhall base today ahead of Saturday’s friendly at Fleetwood, with games against Preston and Huddersfield before their trip to the Sydney Festival of Football on July 22.
http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/sport/8268564.Blackburn_Rovers_striker_Kalinic_loved_Austrian_boot_camp__hell_/?ref=mr