Hajduk Split have successfully reduced their squad and wage bill over the summer with Ivo Smoje, Goran Rubil, Josip Skoko, Ivan Rodic, Mladen Pelaic and today Dario Jertec having left the club. The only players yet to resolve their futures are left backs Ante Seric and Ante Aracic as Hajduk are still unsure whether first choice defender Ivan Strinic will stay on. Strinic is a target of Lazio, as well as clubs from the Russian Premier League.
Hajduk have said they will sell Strinic for 4m Euro's, but do not see Croatia Under 21 player Goran Jozinovic as a immediate replacement. Instead Ante Seric or Ante Aracic could be brought back into the fold. Seric, 32 is wanted by Turkish club Karaburspor but hasn't agreed upon the termination of his contract from Hajduk. Aracic has been recovering from a serious injury picked up last summer. Aracic can play centre back or left back and could be a useful player, but Hajduk may prefer to move him off their wage bill.
Jertec, who was finally released today has played little football in the last two seasons. Jertec is still only 24 and is now free to rejoin NK Varazdin (formerly Varteks). His availability may also interest NK Zagreb or HNK Rijeka to take a gamble on him. Rijeka are still short on creative midfielders and had Jertec on loan for the 2007/08 season where he impressed.
Hajduk also transferred Florin Cernat to Karabukspor this week. Cernat, was seen as a luxury player by Hajduk due to the presence of Mirko Oremus, Marin Tomasov, Anas Sharbini and Mario Ticinovic. Cernat's departure is good news for both Ticinovic especially and Kreso Ljubicic. It also makes room for the development of youth team players. Hajduk would appear to still be keen to settle the future of Ante Seric and are still open to bids for Ibricic, Buljat and Strinic.
Elsewhere HNK Sibenik are attempting to rebuild their team in time for the beginning of the Europa Liga. Drazen Govic has returned after spells abroad in Hungary and Canada. Rijeka are also still chasing Davor Vugrinec and RNK Split want both Dragan Stojkic and Zlatko Runje.
