Zamalek to auction off Zaki

Wigan loan star Amr Zaki will be sold to the highest bidder next summer as his Egyptian club Zamalek cash in on the striker's Premier League success.

The 25-year-old hitman, a virtual unknown and against all the odds was leading the Premier League goalscoring charts with eight goals before Nicolas Anelka overtook him, but still Zaki's impact on the top flight has been sensational.

His performances have alerted several clubs from around Europe and the £7.25million, which Wigan boss Steve Bruce was quoted for a permanent deal, is sure to have almost doubled.

A statement on Zamalek's official website read: "Amr Zaki has been in the limelight for a while, and the mass media have been fuelling speculation over his next move and whether Wigan would let him seal a new deal or not and so forth.

"We hereby assure that we have the legal rights to either accept or reject offers for the aforementioned player, and no other club are authorised to interfere in potential negotiations.

"We would accept the highest bid for the player."

Bruce, who captured Zaki on a season-long loan at the start of the season, felt a permanent deal was at the time a 'risk', but he will be kicking himself that he didn't take a punt on the powerful frontman.

Moneybags Manchester City are believed to be heading the queue for Zaki with Liverpool also interested in a player Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has likened to Alan Shearer.