Premier League club FC Portsmouth are ready to sign Hajduk hot-shot Nikola Kalinić in a € 7,5m deal – to fill Peter Crouch’s giant boots. According to British media the goalscorer is due to fly in for a medical over the weekend after Pompey officials thrashed out a fee for him in Split yesterday.

Kalinić could team up with Niko Kranjčar at Pompey – FC Porto, Real Zaragoza, Bologna and Valencia have all been linked with the 21-year-old who has been involved in a series of petulant incidents. However, he is in demand after scoring 15 goals last season for his club.

Kalinić has been described as the future of Croatian football after representing his country at under-17, under-19 and under-21 level. He was included in Slaven Bilić’s Euro 2008 squad last summer and made an appearance from the substitute’s bench in the 1-0 victory against Poland.

HNSLatest will have an Off/On the ball article featuring the backgroud and career progression of Kalinić in the next days, make sure to keep checking back!

Other related headlines

1. Kalinić: “I won’t renew my contract with Hajduk”
2. Kalinić ready for Portsmouth
3. Hajduk Split rejects Bologna’s Kalinić bid