Ewood Park supremo Sam Allardyce looks to have won the race to sign young Croatian star Nikola Kalinic from Hadjuk Split, according to reports.

As we told you hear on ExtraFootie, Portsmouth were still hopeful of completing a deal to bring the promising goal getter to Fratton Park, after an initial propsal hit a snag. But it seems that Blackburn have gazumped the offer from Pompey and are set to rubber stamp the deal.

It's been a frustrating transfer window for 'Big Sam' after a number of targets went astray, and to rub salt into the wounds, triallist Christian Vieri walked out on the club too.

But this news will bring some respite for the former Bolton boss and the Ewood Park faithful.

The 21-year-old has an excellent scoring record with Split - finding the back of the net 32 times in just under 60 appearances. He is held in high record by national team coach Slaven Bilic, who has rewarded the young gun slinger with two full caps already.

A fee in the region of £6million has been agreed and Allardyce will be overjoyed to have filled part of the void left by the departed Roque-Santa Cruz and Matt Derbyshire.