Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill this morning took the unusual step of distancing himself from the transfer reports linking the club with Serbian striker Nikola Zigic.

“I wouldn’t normally comment but there have been so many stories claiming this as fact and people have been quoted. They’re completely wide of the mark,” said the Villa boss on the official website. Reports claimed that Villa had tabled a £5 million bid for the 6’ 7” Valencia hitman, and the deal could be done within days.

Martin O’Neill went on: “There’s not a grain of truth in the story that we’ve put in an offer for the player and I don’t know where it’s coming from. I don’t even know who the player’s agent is.” The denial was so categorical from a manager noted for playing his cards to his chest that this statement is either a double-bluff or the whole truth of the matter.

Zigic has played 14 times for Valencia and only managed one goal in a torrid season. Being behind main striker David Villa in the pecking order cannot have helped, nor can his injuries and the dimsal form of the whole Valencia side. Last summer the Spanish side paid Real Zaragoza €20 million for the ex-Red Star Belgrade man, but he has been unable to take his prolific form to Eastern Spain thus far.

It was reported that Valencia were willing to take a heavy hit on the transfer fee in order to take Zigic off the wage bill. A number of factors worked in the transfer rumours favour – the interest Villa showed in equally tall striker Peter Crouch, the fact Martin O’Neill has taken an unfancied Valencia player before in John Carew, the fact Villa are looking to expand their threadbare squad before the start of the season. Zigic was seen as an ideal backup for the main front pairing.

But after this morning’s firm denial, it seems as if Villa fans need to speculate a bit longer on the club’s next summer signing.