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Arsenal and Spurs cast eyes over Croatia stars Brozovic and Rebic

| 15.10.2014
SPORTSBOOK ODDS

Arsene Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino are reportedly both keen to dip back into the transfer market, and are being heavily linked with winter window moves for two of Croatia’s top young talents.

Arsenal (outsiders at 25/1 to win the Champions League) are rumoured to have their sights set on Dinamo Zagreb star Marcelo Brozovic, with transfer talks supposedly set to take place in November.

A box-to-box midfielder, Brozovic has made 56 league appearances for Croatian capital side Dinamo, and earned six caps for his nation, including an appearance at the World Cup against hosts Brazil.

The highly-rated youngster would bring both craft and grit to the Gunners, and hails from a famed youth academy that also produced the likes of Real Madrid maestro Luka Modric and Inter Milan star Mateo Kovacic.

Aged just 21, Brozovic has also illustrated an eye for goal, netting seven times in 12 games for Croatia’s Under-21s, and has considerable scope to develop further, making him an ideal target for wily Wenger. Arsenal already have a history of tapping into Croatian talent, with the country’s top two scorers, Davor Suker and Eduardo da Silva, having previously represented the north Londoners.

Brozovic’s agent has already weighed in on the rumours, stating: “Croatia plays USA in November in London and during our stay there we will hold meetings and negotiate with several English teams. Yes, I can confirm Arsenal are one of them.”

With five years left on his current contract at domestic giants Zagreb, the Gunners will likely have to fork out more than the £7m they are rumoured to be prepared to part with, especially if they want to pip their Premier League peers to the post.

Arsenal’s north London rivals Spurs, meanwhile, are also keen to capture a Blazers’ boy, with Fiorentina-owned forward Ante Rebic apparently registering on Pochettino’s radar.

The adaptable attacker is currently on loan with German minnows Red Bull Leipzig, after failing to make an impact in Serie A. Rebic was reduced to just four league appearances last term, netting only once, but reportedly impressed Tottenham officials with his recent performances against the England Under-21s.

Already capped eight times for his nation’s senior side, Rebic can operate on the left wing as well as up front, and would provide Pochettino with a much-needed alternative attacking option. Spanish striker Roberto Soldado is tipped to leave White Hart Lane, resulting in Spurs being linked with a host of forwards, including West Brom starlet Saido Berahino and Toulouse frontman Wissam Ben Yedder.

Any move may have to wait to until the summer, however, as the Split-born striker is expected to see out his loan deal with Leipzig.

Spurs (3/1 for a top four finish) have only managed to score nine goals in seven Premier League games, and will need to act fast if they are to realistically challenge for a Champions League spot. Their need for new recruits this winter could still potentially convince Vincenzo Montella to cash in on Rebic, however, and cut short his stint in Germany.

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Author

Holly Thackeray

Holly is a member of the content team, and can often be found on the sports desk writing about favourite topics Serie A and East Asian footballing nations. A recent darts convert, she is also a fully-fledged member of Barney's Army and a proud Leeds-born Manchester United fan.