Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United are among the clubs keeping close tabs on on-loan FC Liefering forward Roko Simic.
According to an exclusive report from Jeunes Footeux, Roko Simic is being tracked by several top clubs across Europe, including RB Leipzig, AC Milan and AS Monaco. Among them, Premier League duo West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur are also interested in the services of the RB Salzburg forward, currently on loan at FC Liefering.
The 18-year-old is the son of former Croatian forward Dario Simic, but unlike his father, Roko began his youth career at NK Kustosija before moving on to Lokomotiva and eventually Red Bull Salzburg this summer. His €4 million move to Austria did raise some eyebrows, though the forward was quickly loaned out to FC Liefering.
Liefering have already been established as one of the best breeding clubs in Europe for young talents, having nurtured stars such as Liverpool target Karim Adeyemi in recent years. And it appears Roko Simic might just be their next big prospect, with the 18-year-old forward already netting seven goals in just ten matches in the Austrian second division this campaign.
Aside from his goalscoring prowess, what is particularly eye-catching about Simic is his imposing 1.90m frame. He can be strong in aerial and physical duels, which makes it easier for him to be compared to Red Bull Salzburg alumni Erling Haaland.
?? Roko Simić (18) continues his red hot form for club and country. ?
? Goals in 6 consecutive matches
⚽️ 9 goals in those 6 matches
?? 3 goals for Croatia’s U21sA goal every 49 minutes. ? pic.twitter.com/W4sVJz3fNz
— Football Wonderkids (@fbwonderkids) October 12, 2021
Although the 18-year-old has a long way to go before he can even remotely reach the top level, Premier League duo Tottenham and West Ham United intend to snap him up, perhaps even next summer.
Spurs, for one, are in the market for new strikers as they prepare for life without Harry Kane. The Englishman is still a top target for Manchester City, and his departure from Tottenham is set to create a massive void in the goalscoring department for the club.
Although the Lilywhites have been linked with a swoop for stars such as Alvaro Morata, Simic could be an interesting long-term investment. The youngster has already shown his immense potential at Liefering so far, and has the ability to become an asset for Tottenham in the coming years.
West Ham, meanwhile, are looking for an alternative for their leading frontman Michail Antonio. Simic fits the bill perfectly due to his massive frame and physique that should enable him to offer another dimension to West Ham’s attack that is led by a striker that typically relies on his pace and dynamism in the final third.
