According to the latest reports out of Serbia, Crvena Zvezda is targeting Macedonian attacker Nikola Jakimovski as a potential reinforcement during the upcoming winter transfer window.

We reported about the Crvena Zvezda interest in Jakimovski last month but rumors have intensified in the last 48 hours that the Serbian giants have begun negotiations to capture the signature of Jakimovski.  According to the newspaper “Sportski Zurnal,” they have been unofficially informed that negotiations are already underway between Crvena Zvezda and Javor (Jakimovski’s current team) and that the transfer is close to being realized.  Unless the negotiations hit an unexpected snag, Crvena Zvezda looks at the 21-year-old Jakimovski as a player for the future.

Jakimovski also made the following statement to “Sportski Zurnal,” “I was a Crvena Zvezda fan from a young age and of course it would be a great desire, like many players, to wear the jersey of the prestigious club.  There were indications that the red-whites were interested and following my games, but I let my manager take care of that.  Until June, I am a player of Javor and will respect what the club does.  I have an obligation towards Javor who decided to sign me earlier in the summer after an unsuccessful transfer to Sweden.  Everything will be clearer in a couple of days.”

Nikola Jakimovski has the ability to play in attacking midfield or as a striker.  According to a scouting report, he is known his good through balls and accurate crosses.  Jakimovski made 10 appearances for Javor during the first half of the season in Serbia and his numbers were not gaudy but overall, he has performed well on a bad team where he does not have much to work with.

Jakimovski grew up in the Makedonija Gjorce Petrov youth system but then left in 2010 to join Ferencváros from Hungary.  However, Jakimovski was not receiving much playing time so he spent the second half of the season at Teteks.  He performed well with Teteks but wanted to move abroad in the summer of 2011 when he became a free agent.  He ultimately signed a contract with Javor where he impressed and now Jakimovski is drawing interest from Crvena Zvezda.  Nikola also recently became a member of the Macedonian U21 national team when he was called up as a replacement for Ferhan Hasani who had to withdraw from the squad in order to be on the senior national team.