Who is Everton transfer target and Montenegro international Fatos Beqiraj?

Everton will reportedly make a move for Dinamo Zagreb striker Fatos Beqiraj in January. The 24-year-old striker has been compared to Croatian striker Nikica Jelavic for his style of play and physical build but will David Moyes ‘follow the Jelavic road’ and bring in a player from the former Rangers marksman’s homeland in January?

Here is what we know about the player.

1. Beqiraj was born on the 5^th of May 1988 in Peje. Originally a part of the Former Yugoslav Republic the city now lies in western Kosovo.

2. Beqiraj started his footballing education with hometown club KF Shqiponja in the Raiffeisen Football Superleague of Kosovo before moving to city-rivals KF Besa.

3. After impressing in Kosovar football he was signed by Montenegrin side FK Budocnost Podgorica who also honed the talents of Yugoslav legends such as Dejan Savicevic and Predrag Mijatovic.

4. In his first season at the club he smashed home nine goals in 15 appearances and went on to become the league’s top-scorer during his two and a half year stint in Podgorica as he scored 28 times in 62 league appearances for the club.

5. This impressive form alerted Dinamo Zagreb to his talents who snapped him up in 2010.

6. Last season he became the Croatian Premier League’s top goal-scorer with 15 goals, becoming the first foreigner to do so.

7. The highlight of his career so far will be scoring in the Santiago Bernabeu against Real Madrid, despite losing the game 6-2.

8. Beqiraj currently represents the Montenegro national football team after making his full debut against Italy in 2009.

9. So far the powerful striker has amassed three goals in 16 appearances for The Brave Falcons against Azerbaijan and bagging two against San Marino.

10. He has however expressed a desire to represent the Kosovo national football team should they ever be allowed to join FIFA competitions.

Here he is in action including a few impressive snippets against England…

image: © joncandy