Pompey line-up Zarate deal
21 May 2008 - 08:30:27
Portsmouth are reportedly in talks to sign former Birmingham City loanee Mauro Zarate.
The 21-year-old Argentinian impressed during a brief five-month stay at St Andrew's after scoring four times in six Premier League starts for the relegated Blues.
Zarate, who has been capped at under-21 level by Argentina, joined Birmingham on loan from Qatari club Al-Saad in January.
Speaking after their season had ended in relegation disappointment, manager Alex McLeish admitted he had been impressed with the diminutive frontman.
"Mauro's going to be an attractive proposition to Premier League clubs - in fact I know he is," he told the Birmingham Mail.
"It was a little bit of a risk bringing him in from a league where you can get away with things, be lazy and still look like a world-class star, coming into the hurly-burly of the Premier League.
"So I applaud his spirit, his heart and he will be a good asset to one of the big clubs - if not here then abroad."