• Premier League

Jelavic bargain puts other clubs to shame - Bilic

ESPN staff
April 13, 2012
Nikica Jelavic has settled in well at Everton © Getty Images
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Croatia national team manager Slaven Bilic believes Everton have got themselves a bargain in £5 million striker Nikica Jelavic.

Jelavic, 26, moved to Goodison Park from Rangers in the January transfer window, and has made a decent start to life on Merseyside with five goals in his first ten matches - including four in his last four games.

Bilic, who also represented the Toffees during his playing days, believes Everton's smart bit of business has put the recent activity of Liverpool - who showed interest in the striker briefly before he moved south of the border - in a poor light.

"I read about £20-million-plus transfers and in that respect his price does look like a bargain," Bilic told the Times. "It's great for Everton and not for the first time, looking at some others they have signed.

"They know the formula. It is hard to find them, even though £5m is £5m.

"You need a bit of luck at the start, which he got by scoring a couple of goals, and now his confidence is sky high. He never panics and he's such a cool finisher."

He added: "Everton have definitely found a natural goalscorer. People asked me what I thought of him even before he signed for Everton, and I was quite sure about him. I've known him since he was a child. We are from the same town and the same club in Hajduk Split. I watched Everton a lot even before he came and always imagined he'd suit them perfectly.

"Okay, they have a great squad but they needed a guy who is not only a finisher - he does not need that to be playing well - but also great in the build-up play, he can hold the ball. He is just perfect for Everton's style of play."

Bilic believes that, given more time to adjust to the Premier League, the 26-year-old will become one of the division's most feared marksmen.

"He asked me about Everton, but he knew without me telling him that they are a big club and it would be a massive step up to go from playing in Scotland to the Premier League," he said. "He is at a great age, but his best years are still to come.

"I'm expecting him to improve even more - he has no limits. I think he can become one of the most important strikers in the league next season."

The biggest game of Jelavic's club career to date will come on Saturday, when David Moyes' side face their city rivals Liverpool in the semi-finals of the FA Cup. Bilic believes it is difficult to predict who will triumph at Wembley, but recent form may make the difference.

"Liverpool have [Luis] Suarez, who is a finisher, and I think Andy Carroll will click because he is a good player," he noted. "There are no favourites but Everton are definitely in better form than Liverpool right now."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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