Socceroos playmaker Daniel Arzani could be set for a move to Hungary

A Socceroos playmaker has attracted further interest from Europe, while an emerging A-League talent could again be on the move.

Hungary looms as a potential destination for Socceroos playmaker Daniel Arzani, while Australian under-20 star Alex Badolato is wanted by the Newcastle Jets.

Arzani, who has spent the past two seasons with Melbourne Victory, had recently been linked with a move to Scottish Premiership club Hearts.

However, the 2026 FIFA World Cup hopeful is also now in the sights of at least one Hungarian first division club.

Arzani was part of the 26-man Socceroos squad that sealed World Cup qualification with wins in the past nine days over Japan and Saudi Arabia.

He came off the bench in Australia’s 1-0 victory over Japan in Perth, but wasn’t in the 23-man match-day squad for the Socceroos’ 2-1 win over the Saudis in Jeddah.

Daniel Arzani may be headed for Europe. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Meanwhile, Badolato, who was a teammate of Arzani at the Victory for the latter stages of the 2024-25 A-League season after joining the Melbourne club on loan from Western Sydney Wanderers, could again be on the move.

It’s understood a player swap of sorts between Newcastle and Western Sydney could take place that would result in Badolato – who was player of the tournament at this year’s AFC Under-20 Asian Cup won by Australia – joining the Jets to play under recently appointed coach, former Socceroos captain Mark Milligan.

“There is nothing signed yet, but he (Badolato) is definitely a player that is being floated around,” Milligan said.

“After the year he had with the Young Socceroos, he’s a player that’s of interest to us, but there are also a number of other players in that category that we’re looking at.”

Milligan would not confirm the expected arrival of Max Burgess, saying the 30-year-old midfielder – who wasn’t offered a new contract with Sydney FC after spending four seasons with the Sky Blues – was yet to sign a deal with the Jets.

Alex Badolato is in the sights of the Newcastle Jets. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

The Jets announced this week that Japanese winger Kota Mizunuma had signed a new one-year deal with Newcastle.

“It was very important to myself and the club that we have a player of Kota’s experience,” Milligan said.

Milligan said that his plans for next season also included Clayton Taylor, despite the 21-year-old winger having twice requested a release from his Jets contract in recent weeks.

“If I don’t have an environment where players want to be and players want to get better and continue to grow, the I’m doing something wrong,” Milligan said.

“At the moment, I’m preparing for pre-season with Clayton.”

Meanwhile, former Jets, Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners left-back James McGarry is hoping to join Brisbane Roar in a bid to kickstart his bid for selection in New Zealand’s squad for next year’s World Cup.

Negotiations are continuing between McGarry’s current club, Scottish outfit Aberdeen, and the Roar, but it’s expected the 27-year-old defender – who spent the second half of the 2024-25 season on loan at Greek club Athens Kallithea – will soon be confirmed as a Brisbane player.

Elsewhere, 20-year-old forward Arion Sulemani has left A-League champions Melbourne City to join Perth Glory on a two-year deal.

“The main reason I wanted this move was to get consistent game time,” said Sulemani, who made eight A-League appearances for City – four as a starter – in the club’s successful 2024-25 campaign.

Originally published as Socceroos playmaker Daniel Arzani could be set for a move to Hungary