After transfer deadline passed the situation still seems far from comfortable for Inter Zapresic, who appear to have recieved the cold shoulder from Dinamo Zagreb. Zapresic will have to hope Matija Matko makes an impression and that Arber Abilijaj can find any kind of form, as Dinamo were disinterested in loaning their out of favor striker Dodo back to Zapresic. Ilija Sivonjic was also sent to Lokomotiva.
Matej Delac's transfer from Zapresic to Chelsea might be behind the freezing of relations. Zapresic appeared to wish to go their own way, but their changes have been disastrous. Out went two of their stars Miroslav Saric and Mario Grgurovic on free transfers with pale replacements like Tomislav Zivko taking their place. Defensively Sasa Balic and Nenad Nikolic have not worked out, whilst Gamarra was in and out the club in months and the forementioned Abilijaj also has flopped so far.
Saric and Grgruovic will now make positive reinforcements for one of Zapresic's competitors. It is thought Cibalia only need one more creative forward to get back to the form of last season. Mladen Bartolovic was a sound signing. However the team are lacking a player who can get on the ball are make things happen. Saric and Grgurovic will certainly make attractive signings. However ex Slaven Belupo playmaker Srebrenko Posavec could also be highly effective.
NK Zagreb could also be searching out a central midfield player after becoming disillusioned with Brazilian Jethron. Marko Maric, formerly of Lille and Skoda Xanthi may interest them as they attempt to stay in the top half of the table. Karlovac also still look one striker short of being a decent side. Edin Husic and Mario Ticinovic are decent signings, but they lack a number 9. Karlo Primorac has been linked with the club in recent weeks and Andrej Kramaric could also have been a noteworthy loan signing. Dinamo have six strikers on their books now and are only playing one up front. For some reason, Dinamo didn't manage to loan out Dodo or Andrej Kramaric before the deadline.
Sibenik may have made a major gain in signing Cibalia's Zjelko Malcic. Malcic and the clubs other recent signing Niko Tokic are under pressure to find goals quickly, although Antonio Jakolis and Ivan Bozic should also contribute from the bench. Sibenik, like Zapresic look set for a long slog this season.
Zadar who appear to be ticking along nicely and have goals in Ivan Santini, Zelimir Terkes, Antonio Mrsic and Ivan Curjuric also added former player Dragan Zupan to their roster. Toni Pezo is also starting to make his presence felt in midfield. Tomislav Glumac has also been doing well in the backline. The club were linked with Dario Bodrusic who would be a good addition if they can sign him up.
Istra Pula also make some good additions. Brazilian Eliomar should provide a good link between midfield and attack. Sinisa Linic will also do a good job as a midfield reinforcer. Istra, however will need Asim Sehic to find his form and for Bosko Stupic and Edin Hadzic to start chipping in. Istra are also needing a lot from Armend Alimi, who is carrying a lot of weight on his shoulders.
Rijeka were in discussions with Ante Tomic, however Damir Krielach, Antonio Rukavina and Davor Landeka have been doing well in central midfield so far so they chose not to go ahead with the signing. Tomic ultimately signed with Slovenia's Luka Koper. Rijeka also had interest in their Montenegro international striker Radomir Dalovic. However they considered 500,000 Euro's a poultry sum in comparison to his worth to the team. Having sold the Pamic brothers in the summer, Rijeka have enough finance to last till the winter when Dalovic's value should have increased. Rijeka were also not able to make a quick deal so may be better preparing a replacement in four months time, most likely Ahmad Sharbini who is out of favor at Hajduk. There are however not enough free agents around the place for Rijeka to consider selling Dalovic. Ivan Bosnjak is the most proven Croat striker in free agent status, but his conditioning is not known. Rijeka did strengthen the defence bring Duje Bakovic, back to the club has may have developed during his time in Greece with Kavala and Egaeleo.
NK Varazdin surprisingly did not managed to obtain a sale. The club will be all hands on deck as they try to sale through financially difficult times. Roberto Puncec and Josip Brezovec have been on excellant form, however Dinamo Zagreb is the only Croatian team with money to spend and had their mind focused on buying abroad. Both may attract offers in the winter, but in the meantime Varazdin can look forward to a good season if their current crop of youngsters keep up their impressive work. Gordan Golik is believed to be on standby should Brezovec have moved abroad.
RNK Split saw no reason to make changes as are happy with their start to the season. Ivan Katilinac seems to have worked out that the way the survival in the Croatian league is by shaking the opponents net as regular as possible so invested in four strong strikers. Romano Oblinovic and Bojan Golubovic have been a revelation. Zvonimir Deranja also offers sounds support, whilst Saed Bucan is one of the signings of the summer so far.
Hrvatski Dragovoljac may have reasons to feel concerned. Davor Mladina has not been able to attract new players into the club and many free agents do not fit into their financial structure. Such players as Golik, Milan Pavlivic, Ronald Siklic and Mario Juric could prove handy. Posavec, Saric and Grgurovic are also available, but Dragovoljac appear disinterested in chasing their own tail like Medimurje did when falling into a financial mess last season.
Hajduk Split are expected to continue in the same way until winter which is good news to youngster Dinko Trebotic, Andriasejvic, Ante Vukusic and Duje Cop. Their is a large portion of Hajduk's squad who are satisfied with their status in the club and this is showing out on the pitch. The only two disattisfied is Ahmad Sharbini and Kreso Ljubicic, however this is expected to be settled in the winter with Ahmad likely to return to Rijeka.
Dinamo Zagreb meanwhile will be desperate to see how their new recruits perform out on the pitch. Fatos Beciraj is expected to lead the line, allowing Ante Rukavina to drop deeper. Pedro Morales will have to fight for his place alongside Etto and Ivan Tomecak. Jakub Sylvestr will start on the bench and have to work his way in. It is hard to see how Dodo and Andrej Kramaric have any chance of gaining first team action. Both players were needed at Zapresic and Karlovac, but Dinamo did not make the deal. Part of the reason for this is that Sylvestr is cup tied, whilst Miroslav Slepicka is laid low with illness and could also be heading out the exit door. This could therefore bring Kramaric or Mario Situm back into play.
