Zola To Make Surprise Alex Move?

Tranmere Rovers striker Calvin Zola is reportedly set for a £200,000 move to Crewe Alexandra. Vital Crewe were told by reliable sources that this deal was going ahead last week and today it looks as if the deal is near completion.

The Newcastle academy product was a firm target for Steve Holland in January but with Zola a regular starter for Ronnie Moore's Tranmere no deal was to take place. Holland returned to Zola this month as he started his summer of rebuilding the team and has made good progress.

A deal of £200,000 is said to have been struck by the two clubs and it will be down to if Zola decides to make the move.

After coming through the Newcastle academy, Zola had a season long loan spell at Oldham Athletic in 03-04, scoring seven in 25 starts. After his Newcastle contract expired in 2004 he signed for Tranmere Rovers and has been a regular player since. He's made over 100 appearances, though nearly half have come as a sub, and has scored 18 goals in that time. Last season he made 30 league appearances, 12 coming from the subs bench.

At 6f 3in he is the ideal big striker Holland has been searching for but doubts do remain over his fitness after injury problems that have spanned the last two seasons.