Betis and Hull City Battle for Croatian Striker
Croatian international Franjo Ivanović could be on the move, with clubs from Spain and England showing interest.
Croatian international Franjo Ivanović could be on the move, with clubs from Spain and England showing interest.
In the heart of the summer transfer window, Croatian striker Franjo Ivanović (22) has become a target for two clubs from Europe's top leagues. According to Spanish radio station Onda Cero and Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the former Rijeka player is on the radar of Real Betis and Hull City.
Hull City, managed by Sergej Jakorović, has reportedly already made a formal offer. The transfer could bring Benfica between €20 and €25 million, close to the €22.8 million the Lisbon club paid Rijeka last summer. On the other hand, Real Betis, who will play in the Champions League this season, are also looking to bolster their attack. In Seville, they hope the Croatian international would prefer a team with European ambitions over a newly promoted Premier League side, but their approach is more cautious.
Betis initially planned to bring Ivanović on a one-year loan with a purchase option, covering his wages and paying a loan fee. This model did not suit Benfica, who prefer an outright sale or a loan with an obligation to buy. Betis is now trying to find a compromise, although there are no guarantees they will succeed. The club believes the asking price is too high and is attempting to negotiate a lower fee.
It is important to note that neither Ivanović nor the mentioned clubs have officially commented on these negotiations.
Ivanović's situation at Benfica has become more complicated this summer with the arrival of 22-year-old Colombian international Jhon Durán. Last season, the young Croatian failed to establish himself in the starting lineup because then-coach José Mourinho preferred a single-striker formation, favoring Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis.
Mourinho left the Lisbon club this summer to take over at Real Madrid, and his replacement is Marco Silva from London's Fulham. It remains to be seen whether the change in coaching and increased competition will influence Ivanović's decision about his future.
