Two Top-Five League Clubs Chasing the 'Fiery' Striker
Franjo Ivanović could leave Benfica this summer, with Spanish side Real Betis and English club Hull City in the race for his signature.
Franjo Ivanović could leave Benfica this summer, with Spanish side Real Betis and English club Hull City in the race for his signature.
Croatian football striker Franjo Ivanović (22) is a target for two clubs from Europe's top-five leagues. According to information released by Spanish radio station Onda Cero and Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the former Rijeka player is of serious interest to Spain's Real Betis and England's Hull City.
The English top-flight club, managed by coach Sergej Jakorović, has reportedly already submitted a concrete offer. It could bring Benfica between €20 and €25 million. That figure is close to what the Lisbon club paid for Ivanović last summer when they brought him in from Rijeka for €22.8 million.
On the other hand, Real Betis, who will compete in the Champions League this season, are also on the hunt for a striker. In Seville, they believe the Croatian international would prefer a team with European ambitions over a newly promoted Premier League side. However, their approach has been more cautious.
Betis's initial plan was to bring in Ivanović on a one-year loan with a purchase option, covering his wages and paying a loan fee. That model didn't sit well with Benfica, who prefer an outright sale or a loan with an obligation to buy. Betis are now trying to find a compromise, though there are no guarantees they'll succeed. The club feels the asking price is too high and is attempting to negotiate a transfer for a lower fee.
It's worth noting that neither Ivanović nor the clubs mentioned have officially commented on these negotiations so far.
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, giving the nod to Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis.
Mourinho left the Lisbon club this summer to take over at Real Madrid, and his replacement is Marco Silva, who came from London's Fulham. It remains to be seen whether the change in the dugout and increased competition will influence Ivanović's decision about his future.
