Amr Zaki

Click the photo below to see Zaki’s spectacular scissor kick against Liverpool

Part of Wigan must wince every time Zaki scores. It would have been great for them if he had remained just under the radar, in the zone Steve Bruce has managed to keep Wilson Palacios and Antonio Valencia.

But Zaki’s return of 7 goals in Wigan’s first 8 games have put him firmly in the shop window. Wigan paid around £1.25m to take him on loan from El Zamalek (of Cairo) for the season, with £500k due if he reaches 10 league goals as now seems inevitable.

£1.75m is great business – but Bruce will be kicking himself that they did not insist upon first option as, it now transpires, they did not.

Undoubtedly the vultures will be circling – if not at Christmas, certainly once his season long deal reaches an end. And however loyal Zaki is to Wigan and to Bruce for giving him his break in England, you cannot imagine him turning down a move to, if not the Big 4, a Man City, a Villa, or a Spurs.

Actually ignore that last one… I know who I’d rather play for right now!