Written by Vedran Ćavara
With the festive season upon us, the January transfer window looms large for many Croatian players. Who is coming? Who is going? And where will several high profile stars land? Here are my predictions below:
Photo: Reuters
Ivan Perišić is among the brightest of the young Croatian National team players, currently plying his trade as a winger at Borussia Dortmund, the German champions. The 23 year-old’s most important goal for Dortmund came against Arsenal at home in the Champions league last year, smashing a left-footed volley from outside the box to equalize and force a draw. The blossoming former Hajduk Split youth product, however, has found playing time rather limited this season.
Through 20 appearances, mostly off the bench, he has managed only three meager goals and one assist during the campaign. Growing frustrated with his role, Perišić voiced his displeasure with manager Jurgen Klopp’s decision to use him in a rather limited capacity. Transfer rumors from a wide variety of German and Polish media outlets have him heading to VFL Wolfsburg during the upcoming January transfer window. However, Russian club Dynamo Moscow have also been reported to want the services of Perišić.
If he makes the move to Wolfsburg, he would be joining compatriot Ivica Olić, who moved in the summer from Bayern Munich. Let’s just hope for Perišić’s sake that he gets the playing time he needs to continue his blossoming career.
Verdict: Perišić to Wolfsburg.
Photo: Maxifoot.fr
Dejan Lovren has all the intangibles: size, strength and intelligence to become one of the best center backs in Europe. The one thing he lacks however is pace. But that hasn’t deterred world class European clubs from taking a close look at the former Dinamo Zagreb defender. Chelsea’s scouts have been scouring Europe for good defensive cover in light of a mini injury crisis at Stamford Bridge, with club captain John Terry possibly sidelined until the end of the year and David Luiz proving to be a defensive liability.
According to the Metro: “Interim Blues boss Rafa Benitez is desperate to improve his defensive options in the January transfer window, and powerful centre back Lovren is said to be the latest name to be recommended to him by Chelsea’s vast scouting network”.
Lovren is said to cost £6million, relative chump change to a money rich club of Chelsea’s caliber. This would send Lovren to one of the biggest clubs in the world and surely enhance his reputation. However, I don’t see him going anywhere, as he is receiving a regular run in at Lyon and just recently returned from a horrendous injury. Plus, something tells me he’ll want a piece of Zlatan Ibrahimović for stomping on his face.
Everyone knows the story of Eduardo, the best finisher on the Croatian National team since Davor Šuker, some would argue.
He excelled at youth and senior level at Dinamo, was bought by Arsenal where he had a decent season before suffering a horrible leg fracture. He returns the next year after a lengthy layoff, and was never the same player again. Along comes Shakhtar Donetsk who buy Eduardo for a meager £6 million and he warms the bench for the past two years. His tale is a tragic one, never the player he once was, now seeking playing time. At age 29, he doesn’t have many options left. A few months back, Fulham took a flyer on him but never signed him, but with decreased playing time and Fulham mid table in the EPL, I could definitely see Eduardo joining Mladen Petrić at Craven Cottage this January.
Photo: Globoesporte.globo.com
Domagoj Vida looks like an unassuming and unimpressive player, but has recently become a steady steward in Croatia’s back line. His versatility and ability to stick his task are his strongest attributes, but he is still a raw 23 years old. Rumors from England have him linked with a move to either Manchester City or Manchester United. My gut tells me he stays at Dinamo, as he is still not a complete product and would only be resigned to reserve duty at this point in his career, were he to move abroad.
Photo: NA
At just 16 years old, Alen Halilović is thought to be the second coming of Luka Modrić. Eager to possibly cash in on the next big thing from Croatia, delegates from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Manchester United have been watching the young player recently. Dinamo Zagreb, being the cash strapped club that they are, could be holding out for a transfer fee of about 15-20 million euros for the ‘wunderkind’. I could very well see him moving abroad, but could also envision him staying at home to further develop. I’ll give a winter transfer a 50/50 chance.
Photo: Dailyfootballnews.org
Yet another Dinamo youngster being watched for his stand out performances at the club, and at only 18, he could very well move abroad. Adopting a sense for building his team stemming from a young core, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been watching Mateo for quite some time and would love to bring him to the Emirates. Question is, would he be willing to pay the 18 million that Dinamo wants? Probably not. So I see Mateo moving somewhere in central Europe. My guess is Bayern Munich.
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Happy New Year to all! See you again in 2013!
Bilić za osam milijuna dovodi odličnog Vatrenog u Moskvu!
http://is.gd/k1x6E0
Looks like Gregory Sertic is going to don the kockasti! First family from Brinje in the repka I have to think…..love it!
http://sportske.jutarnji.hr/igor-stimac-nakon-nove-godine-bit-ce-bogatiji–za-jednog-veznjaka–stize-francuz-gregory-sertic–/1075057/
Schindefield is going to Greek football – PAOK
Atleast he will be able to get regular playing time
Eduardo will probably go to Lokomotiv
Pletikosa is linked to Dynamo Moscow
Schildenfeld meanwhile is leaving Dynamo Moscow
Perisic hopefully stays in Germany
Vida to Dynamo Kiev
Lovren is staying
Kovacic and Halilovic won’t be leaving this winter
Hajduk will sell one if not both Caktas and Radosevic abroad
5 mil for Vida to Kiev? http://sportske.jutarnji.hr/zdravko-mamic-otisao-u-kijev-dogovoriti-transfer-domagoja-vide-vrijedan-5-milijuna-eura-/1075280/
Siena predala službenu ponudu za Livaju
http://is.gd/GH88LH
Vatreni u siječnju prelazi u Arsenal? – Nikice Jelavića
http://is.gd/Di0b6k
@19Tornado65
Don’t forget Slaven Belupo’s Igor Bubnjic.
Highly-rated young defender that was purchased by Udinese at the beginning of the season, and is just on loan at Slaven until the end of the year (when Bubnjic counts as an EU player for them).
We’ve got some decent young talent in the back coming up the pipeline. Hopefully they get regular playing time on their new teams.
@ Vedran In Croatia they call him Kiks Lovren or Pranje oci, hes not top defender looks lost on pitch
Who cares about Lovren? I’d say most Croatians aside from yourself probably do.
Eduardo je legenda all the best to him always polite when i see him at the Pleso.
Lovren who cares i hope Mateo Pavlovic does well at Bremen, and Elvis Kokalovic moves to dinamo solid CBS both.
No way Eduardo moves to Fullham with Petric. They’re already stacked at the top of the field. Rest of them are good though.
Perišićev agent: Nismo još dobili Wolfsburgovu ponudu
http://is.gd/FvSxhd
Štimac će nakon Nove godine biti bogatiji za jednog veznjaka: Stiže ‘Francuz’ Gregory Sertic
http://is.gd/FNMl6S
I forgot to mention Ilicevic probably leaving Hamburg, as well…
Nice read, Vedran!
Good comments, Denis!
There are rumors that Kranjcar may be headed to Lokomotiva and Kovacic and Vrsaljko packaged to a top league.
I think that Dinamo should move Vrsaljko if they get the chance as he has been stagnating for the last year and a half…
Eduardo to Lokomotiva Moskva
Well done Vedran! Nice read.
Dortmund are prepared to let Perisic go for the right price. But at the same time, they like Ivan on the bench for insurance purposes. Dortmund are going deep in the champions league. Ivan is stuck at Dortmund just like Pranjic was stuck at Bayern. Pranjic transferred to Portugal and that was the end of his career.
However, Perisic has youth on his side and I can see Wolfsburg put up 7 mil for the former Hajduk Split reject.
I dont see anyone else going anywhere this winter. Maybe Dinamo find a rich Russian or Ukrainian club to pick up Vida. Eduardo is finished. Shakhtar like him on the bench as insurance.
Lyon would get rid of Lovren for a decent price. However, I dont think that anyone is giving even a “decent” price for the former dinamo zagreb defender. I still dont see what Lyon see in him.