The Hard Tackle takes a look at three potential summer transfer destinations for Luka Jovic as Real Madrid prepare to offload the Serbian striker.
Real Madrid are bracing themselves for a huge summer after having ended the 2020/21 term without winning a single trophy. The Spanish capital outfit have already overseen a managerial change, with Carlo Ancelotti returning at the helm of affairs at Santiago Bernabeu following the departure of Zinedine Zidane. The Merengues have also made their first signing of the summer in the form of David Alaba, who arrived on a free transfer.
However, there remains plenty to be done in the transfer market for Real Madrid as they look to bounce back strongly. A number of positions on the pitch will need to be strengthened this summer but with finances tight, Los Blancos will need to generate funds for transfers by offloading some of the players on the current roster that are not part of the plans going forward.
One such player primed to leave Real Madrid this summer is Luka Jovic. Signed from Eintracht Frankfurt in a big-money deal in the summer of 2019, the 23-year-old struggled to reproduce his goalscoring exploits in Spain and spent most of his debut season warming the benches. A similar story ensued in the first half of the 2020/21 season as well before he was loaned to Eintracht in January earlier this year.
Jovic started well upon his return to Germany but faded with time and returns to the Bernabeu with little prospects of making it into Ancelotti’s plans for the season. As a result, Real Madrid are now ready to offload the centre-forward permanently this summer reports Defensa Central, with the club also lowering their transfer fee demands from €40-45 million to €30 million.
Despite his struggles in Spain – 2 goals, 2 assists in 32 games – Jovic’s prolific 2018/19 campaign with Eintracht Frankfurt showed that he can be a worthy addition to any side when he is given regular playing time. And The Hard Tackle takes a look at three clubs who could stand to benefit from signing the 23-year-old Serbian international in the summer.
AC Milan
Starting off with a club that are already being linked with a move for Jovic, AC Milan would certainly benefit from adding the Real Madrid star to their ranks before the next season. The Rossoneri are back in the UEFA Champions League after finishing second in Serie A last season, although they could have ended up as champions if not for a dip in form in the second half of the campaign.
This dip largely resulted from the injuries to star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic and playmaker Hakan Calhanoglu. Heading into the new season, the latter is no more at the club, having joined cross-town rivals Inter Milan while the former will be 40 years old in a few months. Mario Mandzukic’s contract has been terminated after a disastrous spell following his signing in January, leaving Stefano Pioli with very few options for the No. 9 role.
Both Ante Rebic and Rafael Leao flattered to deceive in the centre-forward role last term as well. So, it becomes imperative that Milan bring in a new striker, who can cover for and compete with Ibrahimovic, before taking over from him as the club’s main man. And, Jovic certainly has what it takes to fulfil that role. A move to San Siro would also appeal to the striker as he will be playing Champions League football for a club steeped in history.
Tottenham Hotspur
From a team that is being linked with Jovic this summer to one that had shown interest in the past, Tottenham could benefit from revisiting their interest in Jovic in the ongoing transfer window. The Lilywhites are without a manager currently and need to address that situation first but once that is taken care of, the next big headache will be to find a solution to the centre-forward dilemma in the squad.
Harry Kane has been the main man for Tottenham for the better part of the past six years but finds himself being heavily linked with an exit, with the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United pursuing his signing. Even if he does end up stay, Tottenham have little in the way of backup for him, having seen Carlos Vinicius’ loan deal come to expiry after a rather underwhelming 2020/21 term.
While youngsters Troy Parrott and Dane Scarlett are waiting in the wings, Tottenham need a bit more experience, making Jovic a viable option. The Serbian can be a backup to Kane, should he opt to stay, or a cost-effective replacement in case the England captain decides to move on. Someone who is quite similar in style to Wolves’ star Raul Jimenez, Jovic might end up benefiting if Nuno Espirito Santo ends up being named the new Spurs boss as is being reported.
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Eintracht Frankfurt
The final option on the list is one which Jovic is all too familiar with, as it was his first spell with Eintracht Frankfurt that catapulted him to stardom, eventually leading to the transfer to Real Madrid. In 93 appearances for the Bundesliga outfit, the 23-year-old has scored 40 goals, while setting up 11 more. He was directly involved in six goals (4G, 2A) in 18 appearances in the loan spell earlier this year with the Eagles.
For Eintracht Frankfurt, the means to fund a move for Jovic might prove tricky. However, there is a good chance that star striker Andre Silva could be on his way out this summer after a prolific 2020/21 campaign. Indeed, the Portuguese international is courting interest from the who’s who of European football and could well fetch the Bundesliga outfit a handsome transfer fee, which can, in turn, be used to bring Jovic back.
Jovic knows the club all too well, has tasted success with Die Adler in the past. And even though, there will be a managerial change at the club with Adi Hutter bound for Borussia Monchengladbach, the 23-year-old could benefit from returning to familiar territory where he will not be in the limelight as much and can build his career back.
