Are Tottenham about to sign another Croatian playmaker?
Reports from Spain suggest Tottenham have made a big offer for another Croatian playmaker to follow in the footsteps of Luka Modrić.
Sevilla thought Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozović was on his way to the La Liga according to the Spanish sporting daily AS. The Europa league winners had lined him up as a replacement for Barcelona bound Ivan Rakitić and thought the deal just needed to be rubber stamped.
However now it is emerging that Tottenham may have scuppered the deal for the 21 year-old Croatian who plays in the Priva HNL He was a member of the Croatian squad at the 2014 World Cup where they lost 3-1 to Brazil and Mexico while defeating Cameroon 4-0.
If this reported interest is true, and AS are claiming Spurs have made a big offer, he wouldn't be the first Croatian to have made the switch to White Hart Lane. Luka Modrić is the biggest name but Spurs have also had Vedran Ćorluka, Niko Kranjčar and Stipe Pletikosa.
Mauricio Pochettino is also after Dejan Lovren from Southampton with whom he enjoys a close working relationship. There was said to be an inner circle of young players with whom he got on especially well and Lovren was a part of that. The two are hoping t team up again at Spurs.
Former boss Harry Redknapp was a big admirer of Croatian players, praising them when he signed Pletikosa from Spartak Moscow.
Dinamo Zagreb's sporting director Zoran Mamic spoke a few days ago and at that time there were no 'official' offers for the player.
We all know however that transfer negotiations are conducted ahead of any official offer. Clubs sound agents out, agents sound clubs out and clubs get indications from each other. No official offers just means nothing has been firmed up.
The young playmaker is under contract until 2016 and scored 6 goals in 27 domestic leagues games while also providing 6 assists.
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Apart from Spanish interest from Sevilla there is also interest in him from Liverpool, Bundesliga side Schalke and Serie A sides Inter Milan and Roma. His agent, former Croatian footballer Miroslav Bičanić, last year revealed interest in his client to the Italian press.
Tim Sherwood described Spurs as missing that Luka Modrić type player, the one who knits everything together with disguised passes rather than the side-foot superstars who telegraph every pass.
He didn't get any game time at the World Cup but is one for the future to keep an eye on.
Sevilla thought Dinamo Zagreb midfielder Marcelo Brozović was on his way to the La Liga according to the Spanish sporting daily AS. The Europa league winners had lined him up as a replacement for Barcelona bound Ivan Rakitić and thought the deal just needed to be rubber stamped.
However now it is emerging that Tottenham may have scuppered the deal for the 21 year-old Croatian who plays in the Priva HNL He was a member of the Croatian squad at the 2014 World Cup where they lost 3-1 to Brazil and Mexico while defeating Cameroon 4-0.
If this reported interest is true, and AS are claiming Spurs have made a big offer, he wouldn't be the first Croatian to have made the switch to White Hart Lane. Luka Modrić is the biggest name but Spurs have also had Vedran Ćorluka, Niko Kranjčar and Stipe Pletikosa.
Mauricio Pochettino is also after Dejan Lovren from Southampton with whom he enjoys a close working relationship. There was said to be an inner circle of young players with whom he got on especially well and Lovren was a part of that. The two are hoping t team up again at Spurs.
Former boss Harry Redknapp was a big admirer of Croatian players, praising them when he signed Pletikosa from Spartak Moscow.
"I would say the best players I ever managed in my life have been Croatian boys. They're fantastic boys. I have had Igor Stimac, Slaven Bilic, Davor Suker. Robert Prosinecki was a genius. Fantastic footballers and all great guys."
Dinamo Zagreb's sporting director Zoran Mamic spoke a few days ago and at that time there were no 'official' offers for the player.
"I don't know what's going on. But I know one thing: so far our club didn't get any official offers for him."
We all know however that transfer negotiations are conducted ahead of any official offer. Clubs sound agents out, agents sound clubs out and clubs get indications from each other. No official offers just means nothing has been firmed up.
The young playmaker is under contract until 2016 and scored 6 goals in 27 domestic leagues games while also providing 6 assists.
Recent Stories:
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Will the stadium be delayed another year?
Clubs should be deducted points
Selling Dawson turns Spurs into a club for mercenaries
Belgians keen to work with Pochettino
Bentaleb silencing Spurs critics
Parker didn't refuse Hopeless Hodgson
Apart from Spanish interest from Sevilla there is also interest in him from Liverpool, Bundesliga side Schalke and Serie A sides Inter Milan and Roma. His agent, former Croatian footballer Miroslav Bičanić, last year revealed interest in his client to the Italian press.
"Many Italian clubs are looking at him - like Bologna, Parma and Genoa, they are not the only ones.
"Liverpool scouts have also been following him for a long time now and I know they have spoken with the Croatian club.
"It's too early to talk about prices, but I have heard he could be worth €3.5million (£2.8m)," added Bicanic.
"He is a player with a great engine, but also two good feet. He plays a bit like (Andrea) Pirlo."
Tim Sherwood described Spurs as missing that Luka Modrić type player, the one who knits everything together with disguised passes rather than the side-foot superstars who telegraph every pass.
He didn't get any game time at the World Cup but is one for the future to keep an eye on.
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