Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has insisted he would have no problem with Nikica Jelavic leaving Rangers to embark on a new challenge.
Croatia boss says striker may have regrets if he stays at Rangers
Croatia boss Slaven Bilic has insisted he would have no problem with Nikica Jelavic leaving Rangers to embark on a new challenge as he says the striker would score goals anywhere.
Jelavic has established himself as one of the most dangerous forwards in the SPL this season but speculation has surfaced to suggest he could move on in January.
There is understood to be interest from the Premier League, although both Rangers and Jelavic have played down reports of a possible move.
Bilic will be watching with interest to see what happens as there are just a few months to go before Euro 2012 and Jelavic is set to lead the line for Croatia.
However, Bilic maintains that the 26-year-old has the ability to shine in any league and feels he may live to regret it if he stays at Rangers.
"He'll either be scoring goals for Rangers or he'll be scoring them for someone else so I'm completely calm about it," Bilic told the
Daily Record.
"Maybe Nikica thinks - and I'm saying this theoretically - that he's going to be frustrated if he doesn't take the chance to move on now. Maybe he'll end up asking himself, 'Why didn't I try a higher level when I had the chance?'
"But I'm very calm about it and I'm sure Nikica is too because whatever he does he can't lose.
"People may say that if he moves to England then maybe his confidence might suffer if he is not scoring goals so easily.
Sky high
"But I don't look at it from that perspective. I know him as a player and rate him highly.
"He has proved himself in Belgium, Austria and now Scotland. His confidence is sky high and he thinks he will continue to score goals at a higher level than the Scottish League.
"The better the league, the better player you should become and that is better for the national team.
"But the main thing is that he is happy, playing and scoring goals. That way he feels good in his head, he is high on confidence and he can bring that to Croatia."
Bilic would not mind Jelavic staying at Rangers but also understands why the Scottish club might be tempted to cash in on their in-form frontman.
"If he stays with Rangers, he's at a massive club in a good league. He'll continue to play and score goals. If he decides to move on then he'll get a new challenge," said Bilic.
"It's not my job to put a price tag on his head or to say if £10million is enough or not enough. But let's be honest, £10million is huge money.
"When Rangers signed him everyone said £4m was big money. Now suddenly £10m is not big money?"
