Melbourne City favourites to bring Socceroos right-back Ivan Franjic from Russia to A-League
MELBOURNE City has emerged as favourite to secure Ivan Franjic, with the right-back one of several Socceroos to have fielded offers during the Asian Cup.
MELBOURNE City has emerged as favourite to secure Ivan Franjic, with the right-back one of several Socceroos to have fielded offers during the Asian Cup.
The Torpedo Moscow player’s form has attracted interest from several A-League clubs, including Sydney FC and his former side Brisbane Roar.
But City looms as the most appealing option after Roar signed fellow right-back and former Western Sydney Wanderer Jerome Polenz.
City’s full-back issues have been well documented and a recent resurgence sees them on track to play finals this season.
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Franjic is contracted with the Russians until May 2017 and would join City on a loan deal until the end of this A-League season.
With Franjic’s Russian club already resuming pre-season, he will have to make a call within days of the Socceroos’ final Asian Cup game, which could be as early as Thursday, and as late as January 31.
Tim Cahill, Massimo Luongo, Nathan Burns, Mat Ryan, Alex Wilkinson, Tommy Oar and Tomi Juric are the others being watched by overseas scouts and club officials.
A huge global TV audience is expected for Thursday night’s quarter-final clash between Australia and China, with the transfer window about to slam shut.
Franjic, who recently told the Herald Sun that he wanted to return to the A-League, admitted he’d had a tough stint in Russia after signing from Roar last August, but refused to be drawn on his future.
“Right now my only focus is on the Socceroos,’’ Franjic said.
“I’m still a Torpedo Moscow player and I’m focusing on Thursday night and getting the Socceroos into the semi-final.
“I’ve had a few Roar fans speak to me, telling me to come back.
“But China’s a big game, that’s where all my focus is, Socceroos and the country.
“It was difficult (in Russia). Obviously I had an operation after the World Cup, then I came back and started playing a few games but then the coach got sacked.
“Then I had a choice between playing for my country or staying with new coach and doing 10 days’ preparation. I always put my country first before any club.’’
The European transfer window closes at the end of January, while the Asian one is open until late February.
And the Socceroos are looming as big players in the Chinese transfer window, which closes on February 28.
Burns is understood to have received a lucrative offer from Shanghai Shenhua after striker Juric rejected a mega deal from the cashed up Chinese giants.
Korea-based defender Wilkinson has also received a big offer from China, and will get his first Asian Cup minutes tomorrow against China.
Ryan’s agent Mikkel Beck told website goal.com that there was no offer from Liverpool, but said he wouldn’t move from his Belgian club until June at the earliest.
“I have read the reports that Liverpool are watching Mat, but I am unaware of concrete interest from them,” Beck said.
“We just re-signed a new contract at Club Brugge and Mat is very happy there and is part of an ambitious project where he feels he can progress.
“We will sit down in the summer and talk about things and if there is something concrete and something special that comes up we will consider it.
“A move is unlikely this month as Mat is away at the Asian Cup and is fully focused on doing well for Australia.”
Originally published as Melbourne City favourites to bring Socceroos right-back Ivan Franjic from Russia to A-League