Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has signed Croatian striker Nikola Kalinic from Hadjuk Split for a fee of around £6m on a four year deal. The tall Croatian, who has drawn comparisons with 1998 World Cup Golden Boot winner Davor Suker could cost the club as much as £12m depending on appearances and performances. Kalinic comes in as a direct replacement for Roque Santa Cruz, who joined Manchester City a couple of weeks ago. Kalinic was also believed to have been a target for Portsmouth, who wanted the Croatia international to replace Peter Crouch at Fratton Park. Kalinic has scored an impressive 32 goals in 59 appearances for Split and comes with high expectations to Ewood Park.
“I want to train with my new team as soon as possible and get into top form,” Kalinic told Split’s website.
Blackburn have also loaned Chelsea forward Franco di Santo on a six month deal. After signing from Audax Italino in Chile in 2008, di Santo failed to make a greater impact on the League. di Santo moves to Ewood Park till January, after which Blackburn would have an option to extend the loan deal. Di Santo could make his first appearance for Blackburn in Wednesday’s home friendly against Hibernian.
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