Monaco after Premiership duo

AS Monaco head coach Ricardo is looking forward to add reinforcements to his side by signing the Premiership duo Niko Kranjcar and Benjani.

It has emerged that due to lack of attacking options, Monaco coach Ricardo is eager to add new faces to his squad so that the French principality club are in a better position to compete in French Ligue 1 next season.

Niko Kranjcar plays for Portsmouth in the Premiership while Benjani was signed by Manchester City only in January this year from Portsmouth. Kranjcar is a Croatian international and although just 23 years of age, he has gathered massive maturity and is stated as one of the best players in the world.

Benjani’s form at Portsmouth in the first half of the season was tremendous but the Zimbabwean international striker couldn’t quite get among the goals in the second half of the season when he was at Man City although he was a regular under Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Monaco coach Ricardo has just three strikers in his squad of 28 so far and this has been underlined as the main cause for their dearth in goals. Jérémy Ménez is set to leave the club in the summer and Niko Kranjcar is said to be his readymade replacement at Stade Louis II.

But it wouldn’t be easy for Monaco to convince the Croatian international to leave Portsmouth. Pompey finished 8th in the Premiership this season and play Cardiff City in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Winning the Cup would enable Harry Redknapp’s side to play UEFA Cup football next season which would be a massive incentive for young Niko Kranjcar to stay on at Fratton Park.