Amr Zaki is the latest name to be linked with Manchester City after his club Zamalek claimed talks will take place over the Egyptian striker's future. The powerful frontman has been a massive success in the Premier League since his loan move to Wigan.
Another two goals, including one astounding volley, against Liverpool on Saturday took his tally to seven so far this season. Despite Wigan having the first refusal to sign Zaki when his loan ends next summer and the manager, Steve Bruce, desperate to keep him, they could find it difficult to compete with big-spending rivals at home and abroad. Zamalek claim City are among his suitors as a club statement said: "A Zamalek delegation will fly to either Manchester or Abu Dhabi, not determined yet, to hold talks with City representatives over Zaki."
Mohamed Zidan, Zaki's Egyptian international teammate, had no doubt he would be a success at Wigan, but also believed it would be a stepping stone to a top club. "English football suits his game very much and I thought he would do very well," said Zidan, who plays in the German Bundesliga for Borussia Dortmund. "He is strong and he scores goals as he has shown. He always wanted to play in England and got his chance at Wigan, but I think maybe he will use it to step up to a bigger club. I think he is good enough to play for one of the big teams in Europe, not just England."
The City manager Mark Hughes has been keen to ignore the transfer frenzy surrounding the club and focus on his side's efforts on the pitch. They visit Newcastle tonight and aim to claim a third successive league win at St James' Park for the first time in their history. He said: "On our day we can give anyone a game because of the attacking and technical ability we have in the side. "But if we are to challenge the top four, we have to win on a consistent basis. That's what the top four teams do.
"We are working on that and trying to get better." While City have hope for the future, Newcastle are still in limbo, ripped apart by internal disputes, faltering on the pitch and in need of direction. The Toon army must look with envy at the situation with City's takeover. It could have very easily have been them. As Mike Ashley continues to scour the world for someone, anyone, to buy the club from him, Newcastle toil on the pitch, struggling down at the bottom end of the table.
Their fervent following deserve better and if they can get the right investor, their potential is immense. Joe Kinnear takes his place in the dug-out for the first time following the end of his touchline ban, and Hughes believes he has already made a difference. A foul-mouth outburst at the media gained him notoriety, but Welshman Hughes said: "It seems as though he needed to get something off his chest. It appears to to have galvanised the team and the club.
"Everyone seems to be pulling closer together. They had a decent result against Everton, coming back from 2-0 down to draw. "That shows there is fire in the side. He got the reaction he wanted. Joe has been a football man for many years. "He understands how the game works and maybe he is using every dark art he can find out there to make sure the club is successful. "Every manager looks to do that. What Newcastle lack is that confidence of winning games, week-in, week out."
@Email:akhan@thenational.ae
