Which clubs are interested in signing Franjo Ivanović?

Spanish club Real Betis and English club Hull City are interested in the 22-year-old Croatian striker.

How much has Hull City bid?

According to Onda Cero and A Bola, Hull has submitted a bid that could bring Benfica between €20 and €25 million.

Why is Ivanović leaving Benfica?

He failed to establish himself in the starting lineup last season, and this summer he faces additional competition with the arrival of Jhon Durán, although Pavlidis's departure opens the possibility of staying.

Who is Benfica's new coach?

José Mourinho, who left for Real Madrid, has been replaced by Marco Silva, who previously managed Fulham.

Football

Two Clubs Want Croatian Striker

A.R. · Prije 3h | 2 min

Franjo Ivanović could leave Benfica this summer, with an English Premier League club and a Spanish Champions League participant in the running.

Summary

Hull City and Real Betis want to sign Croatian striker Franjo Ivanović from Benfica.
Hull has reportedly submitted a bid between €20 and €25 million, while Betis is trying to negotiate a loan with an option to buy.
Ivanović was overshadowed by Vangelis Pavlidis last season, and this summer he faces new competition from Jhon Durán.
Benfica's coach José Mourinho has left, replaced by Marco Silva from Fulham.

Croatian striker Franjo Ivanović is the target of two clubs willing to invest serious money to bring him in from Benfica. According to reports from Spanish radio station Onda Cero and Portuguese newspaper A Bola, Spanish club Real Betis and English club Hull City have shown concrete interest, with the latter having already submitted an official bid.

Hull City, a newly promoted Premier League side managed by Sergej Jakirović, is reportedly offering a fee that could net Benfica between €20 and €25 million. This would see the Lisbon club turn a profit on a player they signed last summer for €22.8 million. On the other hand, Real Betis, who will compete in the Champions League this season, also want the 22-year-old forward in their ranks.

Different Transfer Models and the Search for a Compromise

Betis's initial proposal was to bring Ivanović in on a one-year loan with an option to buy, covering his wages and paying a loan fee. However, this model did not appeal to Benfica, who prefer an outright sale or a loan with a mandatory purchase obligation.

It is on this front that the Seville-based club is now trying to find a compromise, although there are no guarantees they will succeed. Betis believes the asking price is too high and is seeking to negotiate a transfer for a lower fee. The club is counting on Ivanović preferring to play for a team with European ambitions over a newly promoted Premier League side.

Competition in Attack and Changes at Benfica

Ivanović's situation at the Lisbon club has become more complicated this summer with the arrival of 22-year-old Colombian international Jhon Durán, who has added to the competition in attack. Last season, the Croatian striker failed to establish himself in the starting lineup, as then-manager José Mourinho deployed a formation with a single striker, favoring Greek international Vangelis Pavlidis.

Benfica saw Mourinho leave this summer to take charge of Real Madrid, with Marco Silva arriving from Fulham to replace him. Interestingly, Pavlidis is also on his way out, which could open the door for Ivanović to stay at the club, but no concrete moves have been made yet.