Monday 1 February 2010

STILL UP FOR GRABS!

With transfer deadline having passed clubs can now only turn to free agents if they hope to improve their squad between now and the end of the season. HRV SOCCER looks at which players could be picked up for free following their release from their former employer.

DARIO SMOJE
It is not known what the plans are of Dario Smoje having played just once this season for Pananios, following on from two seasons of inactivity in the Belgian league with AA Gent. Smoje plays at centre back and enjoyed a strong season in 2003/04 with Dinamo Zagreb before venturing to Belgium. Smoje is lacking regular football, but would provide good experience and know how for a domestic club.

ZVONIMIR DERANJA
One of the 12 still left without a club following Excelsior Mouscron's financial collapse is former Hajduk Split striker Zvonimir Deranja. Now 30 and with only a handful of matches behind him in the last two seasons, Deranja may now lower his expectations. Deranja has a decent scoring record in HNL1 with 52 goals scored whilst with Hajduk and a respectable 19 in 44 games whilst with French second division side Libourne.

STJEPAN POLJAK
Although still contracted to the Turkish club Eskirespor, midfielder Stjepan Poljak has been attempting to get free papers from the sport of arbitration. The former Inter Zapresic and Slaven Belupo would appear happier with a return to the Croatian league, but it would appear his best avenue of seperating from his club is a transfer across to the Far East where his transfer fee can be matched. Poljak is therefore being trailed by Shanghai Shenua, but could still arrive back in his homeland if his free papers arrive with HNK Rijeka highly interested in his signature.

MARIO MIJATOVIC
28 year old striker Mario Mijatovic is hunting for a new club after leaving Lustenau following the dismissal of countryman Nenad Bjelica as coach. Mijatovic, however has restored his reputation in recent years in Austria. Mijatovic, spent his early career struggling to make an impression with Osijek, Kamen Ingrad and Slaven Belupo, before pitching up at Regional side Kottingbrunn. 13 goals in just 14 matches encourage LASK Linz to move for the striker for whom he scored 12 times in 2006/ 07 season to fire them into the top flight. In Bundesliga Mijatovic also didn't look out of place scoring 8 in 30 the following season. Last season was more of a struggle netting just 3, before joining Bjelica at Lusteneau where he scored 4 times. Mijatovic should be appeal to acclimitize to life back in Croatia should he return.