Atalanta eye Russian defender impressing for Spartak

Atalanta are reportedly showing interest in Spartak Moscow’s Russian international centre-back Georgi Dzhikiya ahead of the January transfer window. The Russian Federal News Agency, citing a source, claim Atalanta officials have followed Dzhikiya closely – noting his performances for club and country this season.
And it is stated the Serie A club estimate the player to be worth about 11million euros – which is the offer they intend to make when the transfer window opens on January 1.
Spartak paid Amkar Perm 2.3million euros for Dzhikiya in January 2017 and he became a full Russian international soon after moving to the capital city club.
But he suffered a bad anterior cruciate ligament injury in January 2018 that kept him out until the August of that year – which meant he consequently missed the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at the World Cup in his home country.
Overall he has played in 87 matches for Spartak, scored four goals and given six assists, but it is his defending that has attracted the attention of Atalanta scouts.
Despite languishing in sixth spot in the Russian Premier League, Spartak can boast the joint-second best defensive record and that is in no small part to Dzhikiya, who has started 14 of their 16 games so far.
The 25-year-old’s contract with Spartak is currently due to expire in 2022 and he’s the captain, so he won’t come on the cheap.
But Atalanta have shipped far too many goals this season – 30 in 16 Serie A and Champions League matches – and need to plug the holes in their defence, so a move for Dzhikiya could be a step in the right direction.