Man Utd scout another Bruno - a 29-year-old Croatian one!

Stuart Telford

• 17 Mar 2024 11:39 GMT
• 3 min read

Manchester United's summer transfer business is set to take a bizarre twist with the club scouting Dinamo Zagreb's 29-year-old striker Bruno Petkovic, according to a report in Croatia.

United are in for a big summer now that Sir Jim Ratcliffe's £1.3 billion bid for a 27.7 per cent share in the club - one that brings with it 'sporting control' - has been ratified.

The INEOS boss is expected to oversee a significant clear-out, with Casemiro and Raphael Varane among 15 players who could be offloaded under the new regime.

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New players are coveted - Frenkie de Jong remains a target while FootballTransfers exclusively revealed recently that Michael Olise and Jarrad Branthwaite are top of their shopping list - but the little-known Petkovic would be a surprise arrival.

Man Utd scout in Croatia

"It sounds like a sensation, but scouts from the English giants were in Maksimir recently watching the Dinamo captain live," says Index.hr journalist Stjepan Mati. "It was assumed they were watching [Martin] Baturina but their first target was Petkovic, who's having one of his best seasons.

"Dinamo rejected a €5 million bid from Trabzonspor in the summer, and United know they would expect more from a Premier League club. Dinamo would expect up to €10m, but can't afford to wait for his contract to expire in 2025."

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Petkovic has hit nine goals and three assists from 18 Croatian top-flight games this season, and added another seven from seven in the UEFA Conference League.

Despite his 34 caps and 10 goals for Croatia, in a generation that includes the likes of Luka Modric, Petkovic's addition may come as a surprise upon first inspection.

However, Rasmus Hojlund is United's only recognised No.9 and Petkovic could simultaneously guide the young Dane whilst simultaneously settling for a secondary role at Old Trafford.