The protracted transfer of Dominik Livakovic from Dinamo Zagreb to Fenerbahce appears to have hit a stalemate.
Both clubs have settled the terms of a transfer with eight million euros plus another two million in add-ons but the timing of the transfer can’t be agreed.
Fenerbahce have already been waiting more than a fortnight to welcome the Croatian international goalkeeper but that wait looks likely to continue as Dinamo chase their dream of Champions League qualification.
On the outside looking in many Celtic fans are following development and trying to put together the pieces for a move to the Scottish champions. The transfer fee seems affordable with Livakovic reported to have agreed a salary that is four times his current deal.
His last contract was signed in December 2021, a year before his World Cup heroics put him in the transfer spotlight.
Picking up on the transfer stand off Sportske Novosti reports:
Fenerbahce and Dinamo have come to an agreement. The Blues are entitled to eight million euros immediately plus another two through highly attainable onuses.
Financially, there is no longer any gap between the two clubs. There is none between Dominik Livakovic and the Turkish giant, the last details have been agreed which guarantee the first goalkeeper of Dinamo and Vatreni a salary almost four times higher than the one he has in Maksimir. So, at first it would be said that all that was left was to wait for the medical examination, and that Livakovic would become a new Fener player.
However, the story is not over, there is a problem, quite a big problem. Fenerbahce wants Livakovic by the end of this week at the latest. They gave him the “green light” to play two more games for the Blues – the second leg of the preliminary round of the Champions League against Astana, and the championship game against Gorica. After that, the direction – Istanbul.
And the Turks don’t want to back down even a day on this issue, because coach Ismail Kartal is already mad because Livaković has not joined the team for a long time. Fener has already played the preliminary round of the Conference League, the championship will start on August 13, and there is no first goalkeeper yet.
Dinamo, on the other hand, keeps the same guard as Fener.
Livaković can go, but only after he plays two more games for Dinamo, but not against Astana and Gorica – Dinamo can do without Livaković in them – but against AEK. Passing against the champions of Greece, Dinamo, would bring them to the “hallway of heaven”, to the final round for entry into the Champions League. If AEK pass, the Blues would be immediately guaranteed the Europa League.
Millions of dollars are involved, and therefore no one in Maksimir wants to risk anything. Of course, in all this calculation, Dinamo is certainly aware that Livaković is under great pressure, and that he will be extremely disappointed if his transfer fails because Fener didn’t want to wait another 10 days or because Dinamo wasn’t ready to let him go 10 days earlier .
With Joe Hart into the final year of his contract with two deputies that haven’t really pressurised the former England keeper Celtic will have to deal with that position at some point in the next few months.
If Hart isn’t offered a new contract the hunt for a successor will need to be stepped up.
In recent times Celtic fans have watched the best run of goalkeepers in the club’s history but inbetween Arthur Boruc, Fraser Forster, Craig Gordon and Hart there was Vasilas Barkas who was simply the wrong keeper at the wrong time with a £4m fee and wages wasted during the worst season this century.
Celtic are in the market for a goalkeeper this summer.
It’s understood one target being monitored closely is Croatia & Dinamo Zagreb No1 Dominik Livakovic, who has a year left on his contract.
Fiorentina’s interest has cooled recently. Villarreal & Fenerbahce are also keen. pic.twitter.com/8PzH4sgS0C
— Anthony Joseph (@AnthonyRJoseph) July 14, 2023
