Sunday 11 July 2010

KERIC SIGNS FOR KONJASPOR

Turkish club Konjaspor have completed the signing of talented Croatian forward Andrej Keric from Slovan Liberec. Keric was due to be out of contract next summer and has decided to make his move rather than stay another year in the Czech Republic. Should Mario Mandzukic transfer Keric could be one which slipped the net for Dinamo. Keric has 27 goals from 70 matches and 11 assists from his time with Liberec. He was the league's leading scorer in the 2008/09 season. Konjaspor could have a major signing, but Croatia will hope the players continues to develop and be afforded the same chances in Turkey.

Elsewhere Hajduk Split will miss out on New Zealand striker Shane Smeltz as the player moves across to China with Shandong Luneng. Hajduk have continued to trim their squad with Toni Pezo being sold to FK Tirana. Pezo was supposed to be going on loan to Zadar, but Pezo went for a permanent transfer to the Albania club instead. It is likely only B team players will now be allowed to transfer. Wislaw Krakow are currently reported to be interested in left sided centre back Ante Aracic.

After much negotiated Stanko Mrsic was finally able to announce the long awaited return of striker Mladen Bartolovic to Cibalia. The 32 year old former Bosnia Herzgovina international is being seen as a major gain for a team which lost 6 key players, but still heralds enough talent to enjoy a decent season. Mario Juric and Marko Kartelo, formerly of Belupo and Zagreb are being linked with Sibenik.

Meanwhile it looks as though Ante Tomic and Ilija Sivonjic will not be going anywhere after Dinamo were hit by a serious injury crisis ahead of their Champions League qualification campaign. Dodo and Leandro Cufre have picked up injuries, whilst talented wideman Ivan Tomecak could be out for longer than a month due the same abdominal wall impairment which laid Biscan low for much of last season. Mario Mandzukic, Dario Simic and Pedro Morales meanwhile are not deemed to be fully match fit. Sivonjic, Slepicka, Tomic, Chago and Callelo are currently being seen as vital to the cause of seeing off Slovenian Champions Luka Koper.