Benfica are set to offer 17 million euros for Croatian youngster Marko Pjaca to beat interest from Manchester United and Inter Milan. The Dinamo Zagreb player has been in good form this season despite his injuries.
Transfer guru Gianluca Di Marzio today has claimed that Benfica are offering a big sum to lure the winger away, who many believe to be one of the best emerging talents from Croatia alongside Ante Coric. Di Marzio has also recognised Pjaca to be “the best talent we’ve seen emerge from Croatia since Zvonimir Boban and Dejan Savicevic.” He has also added that if there are no counter offers from the Premier League, then the player is likely to be sold to the Portuguese giants.
United in Pursuit
Earlier in October, reports emerged that Manchester United and Manchester City were in pursuit of the youngster after his string of eye catching performances (via Metro). The Milanese clubs were among the first ones to show interest in Pjaca last year when he was rated at a modest price of 8 million euros. Since then, the price has only gone up.
Louis van Gaal’s side can use a talented winger such as him, especially now since the club is doing so well with teenagers. The 20 year old would easily fit alongside Martial and Rashford and will give Lingard competition for his place should he make the switch to United.
“He’s a great player,” said the Dinamo coach Zoran Mamic, “and has tremendous potential. He does what we ask of him, which is helping his match performance. He takes responsibility in games and is a real threat to opponents. He deserves our congratulations (for winning Croatia’s football award in the Prva.HNL)”. He dazzled with his displays in the Champions League as well.
Having been capped more than six times for the Croatian senior team already, Pjaca has scored 7 goals and 1 assist in his last 7 starts for the Zagreb based club. He has scored 4 goals since his return from a collarbone injury. The young croat, who shares his birthday with another ex-Dinamo star Matteo Kovacic, is definitely set for the stars, but the question still remains whether he would prefer a move to the Premier League or to Italy over Portugal.
