Dinamo Awaits Livaković, but Has Replacements Ready
Dominik Livaković's return to Maksimir is all but agreed, but Fenerbahçe is stalling. Dinamo is ready with options B and C, while scouting the Norwegian opponent on Saturday.
Dominik Livaković's return to Maksimir is all but agreed, but Fenerbahçe is stalling. Dinamo is ready with options B and C, while scouting the Norwegian opponent on Saturday.
Dinamo's assistant coach Mato Jajalo and analyst Mihael Minđek have traveled to Norway to attend Saturday's Norwegian league match between Viking and Sarpsborg in person. Although they have already thoroughly analyzed the Champions League playoff opponent at Maksimir, the desire is to see firsthand the team the Blues will, in all likelihood, face in their bid for a spot in the elite competition.
Of course, provided Dinamo protects their massive 5:0 lead from the first leg against Kauno Žalgiris, which is not in question at the club. However, while scouting in Norway continues, the somewhat tedious but still crucial story of Dominik Livaković's return continues to dominate at Maksimir.
At the end of July 2026, a meeting was held attended by Dinamo president Zvonimir Boban, Croatian national team goalkeeper Dominik Livaković, and his agent Andy Bara. According to information from Sportske novosti, practically everything has been agreed regarding Livaković's return to the blue home. Only a few minor details remain to be resolved.
Dinamo has, therefore, done everything in its power. Now only one thing remains: to wait for Fenerbahçe. From Istanbul, however, there is still no concrete news. The Turkish club is currently focused on other transfers and assembling the squad for the new season, and Livaković is not a priority at this moment. As a result, it is not out of the question that the issue of his future will only be resolved in the final days of the transfer window.
At Maksimir, however, they are not sitting idly by. Since the Livaković story has dragged on, numerous goalkeepers, both domestic and foreign, have been offered to the club. All offers have been carefully considered, with goalkeeper coach Gojko Mrčela and his assistant Ivan Kelava providing their expert opinions.
Dinamo will wait for Livaković almost until the end of the transfer window, but they already have options B and C prepared. The club believes these alternatives are currently of higher quality than the existing goalkeeping solutions. The ideal scenario would be for Livaković to register in time for the Champions League playoff against Viking, but whether that will happen is currently impossible to know with certainty.
Meanwhile, Milan has officially confirmed the mutual termination of Ismaël Bennacer's (28) contract. The Algerian midfielder spent last season on loan at Dinamo, but despite speculation, his return to Maksimir is not planned. The Blues have already found solutions for the defensive midfield position in the form of Kirill Kravtsov (24) and Fuzy Taylor (18).
