"A player of this class will fit into any team": what is known about the possible transfer of Kokorin to Spartak

"We will try to do everything for the team to win"

Alexander Kokorin may become a Spartak player in the near future. According to media reports, on July 30, the footballer visited the club's office and signed all the necessary documents. According to some reports, the striker's contract is for three years.

It is reported that the official signing of the agreement with Spartak by the forward will be announced on August 1, since until July 31, inclusive, Alexander remains a Zenit player. He will move to Moscow as a free agent.

However, the general director of the red and white Shamil Gazizov asked journalists not to rush things.

“Let's not comment on things that were not in the official field. It is not right. Transfer campaign? We are working, trying to do something, I hope we will succeed. I believe in it. We work from morning to night. We will try to do everything to ensure that the team wins, "- quotes Gazizov" Championship ". 

At the same time, the following words of the functionary are quoted on the Telegram channel of the famous journalist Nobel Arustamyan: 

“As far as I know, tomorrow Kokorin has the last day of his current contract. So there will be a new one soon. I am sure Sasha will make the right choice. "

Previously, information about the possible transfer of Kokorin to Spartak was confirmed by the former president of Lokomotiv Ilya Herkus. 

“That's it, Kokorin is already in Spartak. An extremely risky transfer did happen, ”Herkus wrote in his Telegram channel.

And the head coach of Sochi, Vladimir Fedotov, said that the striker did not train with the team on Thursday. 

“We don't know yet what will happen next. There is no information. Sasha knows that we are interested in him. And what will happen next ... In the next few hours, I think, everything will become clear, "- quotes a specialist" Sport-Express ". 

"Only Spartak can intercept Kokorin"

It was in Sochi that Kokorin, the rights to which belong to Zenit, spent the last six months. As part of the RPL rookie, the footballer played ten matches in the Premier League, in which he scored seven goals (two from the penalty spot) and gave one assist.

According to media reports, several domestic clubs showed interest in Alexander at once. First, Sochi hoped to keep the top scorer at the end of the season. Fedotov did not hide his desire to leave the striker in the team.

“There are always a lot of rumors around these players. There is little reliable information among them. Naturally, some negotiations are underway. That's all I can tell you now. Sasha trains with the team. Of course, as a coach, I look forward to him next season. He strengthens us, there are no questions about that, ”the Sport24 specialist quotes. 

It was also reported about the interest in Kokorin from Lokomotiv, in the structure of which the striker spent eight years (2000-2008). Allegedly, the pupil of the club even talked with the general director of the railway workers Vasily Kiknadze and the head coach Marko Nikolic. According to some sources, Dynamo could have returned the former footballer. 

And according to the famous journalist Nobel Arustamyan, in addition to Sochi and Spartak, Kokorin was ready to invite Rubin, Turkish Galatasaray and Italian Roma.  

“Only Spartak can intercept Kokorin, despite the political factor. Spartak has a truly powerful, independent position of the owner. If Leonid Fedun says: "We take Kokorin" - it will be easily acquired, at the risk of the club. "Spartak" has already made an offer to Alexander, this option is quite real, "- wrote Arustamyan in his Telegram channel. 

"I'm calm about talking about his high salary"

The possible signing by Kokorin of a contract with Spartak caused a generally positive reaction from experts. So, the famous coach Andrei Tikhonov, who spent more than 250 matches for the red and white as a football player, called Alexander one of the best RPL strikers. 

“This is a strengthening for any team. Yes, Spartak already has three forwards, but if they were satisfied with the management, they would not sign a contract with Alexander. This means that there are some complaints about the performers already in the team. For example, Zenit has only two forwards at the moment: Artyom Dzyuba and Serdar Azmun, but they do not take other attackers, "the expert noted in an interview with RT. 

At the same time, Kokorin's high salary, which the fans talked about a lot, according to Tikhonov, should not raise questions. The coach also spoke about the possible rejection of the former Dynamo and Zenit forward by Spartak fans. 

“If Kokorin by play proves the need for the team, there will be no questions for him. Remember Vladimir Bystrov. He moved from Zenit to Spartak and brought benefits to the red and white. Moreover, in 2009 he returned back to St. Petersburg and faced a real obstruction. Zenit fans said a lot about him, but Vladimir restored their trust with his actions on the field. And what did Kokorin say about Spartak? He did not offend anyone. Maybe he admitted that he does not like red and white, but this is what all young footballers who play in the antagonistic teams of Spartak do, - added Tikhonov. 

In turn, the former teammate of Kokorin Alexander Samedov, who managed to play for both Dynamo and Spartak, called the potential transfer of the striker a “brilliant deal” for the club. 

“This is what red and white needs. Signing an agreement with Kokorin will help the team move to the next level and get involved in the fight for medals. Yes, there are already three forwards, but there are no forwards of such a level as Kokorin. I am calm about talking about his high salary. Still, not only Spartak is ready to pay it. Alexander was in demand. It is clear that it was necessary to pay well for such a player to sign a contract with the club, and he is worth the money. Plus, he will come as a free agent, ”the ex-midfielder of the Russian national team emphasized. 

According to Samedov, Kokorin in the new team should get a place in the center of the attack, and who will act in tandem with him is not so important. 

“It seems to me that Alexander should succeed in Spartak. Of course, the fans of the red and white will demand a lot from him, but Spartak are always high expectations. This club demands a lot from you. Kokorin knows what he is going for. I think he is ready for this challenge psychologically and physically. He is 29 years old. Some say that Alexander is no longer young. But such people, in my opinion, do not understand anything about football, since 29-33 years is a wonderful age. I don't expect any recessions in his game, ”Samedov suggested.

Another former partner of Kokorin in Dynamo Dmitry Khokhlov, who managed to work with him as a head coach, also believes that Alexander is able to strengthen Spartak. At the same time, the coach suggested that the 29-year-old football player could form a strong duet in attack with Alexander Sobolev. 

“You have to ask the coach where he sees Kokorin. It was used many times from the edge of attack. He may well play there, for example, with a 4-3-3 scheme, but still Alexander likes to act more in the center of the attack. He can make a good duet with Sobolev. One is tall and knows how to cling to balls. Another maneuverable. This is a good combination. The presence of two versatile players in the attack is an absolute plus, "Khokhlov said. 

But the speculation on the topic of Kokorin's age on the part of some fans seemed strange to the specialist. He recalled that many footballers, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, play great even after 30 years, while the red-and-white newcomer is only 29.