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Bruce admits concern over Zaki

23/10/2008

Manager Steve Bruce has admitted Wigan Athletic face a difficult task to convince on-loan striker Amr Zaki his future lies at the JJB Stadium.

The Latics boss has admitted his club do not have a first option to take the highly-rated Egyptian on a permanent basis from parent club Zamalek.

And after scoring seven goals in eight games for Wigan so far this season - which makes him the Premier League's top goalscorer - he is already attracting the attention of several other English sides.

"He's on loan with us until June - that's a fact," Bruce told the Guardian newspaper.

"Over the next few weeks, or however long it takes, we will try and open negotiations with Zamalek and do everything in our power to try and make sure he stays here."

He added: "Zamalek were hoping, and that's why they took the deal, that he would do well. Obviously the better he does the bigger the fee. But he's our player at the moment, so we're in the driving seat.

"We haven't got first refusal on anything. But we have got to see if we can agree a transfer fee with Zamalek.

"Of course, with hindsight, it would have been nice for him to have been ours.

"But we have still got a chance - that is the most important thing - and we will do our utmost."

Perennial European qualifiers such as Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are thought to be among the clubs who have already made enquiries about Zaki's availability.

And it is thought the chance to play in either the Uefa Cup or the Champions League this season could persuade the forward to request a permanent move away from Wigan during the January transfer window.