According to reports from Serbia, 30 year old Miloš Trifunović is set to join an unnamed A-League side after agreeing to terms. Radnički Niš sporting director Marko Jovanovic confirmed to Ljubica Stojanovic of Južne Vesti that there was a release clause in the striker’s contract that he could leave if a better deal was offered to him.
“He got the offer from Australia and the agreement was that we would let him go if he got an offer,” Jovanovic told Južne Vesti.
“It is difficult to bring players of that caliber without money.”
Trifunović has played mostly in the Serbian Super Liga but has had stints in Sweden and Khazakstan as well as in Asia. His most prolific time was at Uzbek club Bunyodkor where he scored 17 goals in 25 league games and 3 goals in the Asian Champions League.
The former Red Star Belgrade man also spent two seasons in the Chinese Super League with Liaoning Whowin scoring 13 goals in 44 appearances before moving on to Khazakstan for two seasons.
Having played seven games already this Super Liga season, netting two goals in the process, the 188cm forward had no problems with his medical and is thought to already be in Australia.
There are three teams with visa spots available – Central Coast Mariners, Brisbane Roar, and Newcastle Jets – with the Jets being the most likely given the financial position of the Roar and spending strategy of Mike Charlesworth at the Mariners. There has also been talk of Newcastle announcing a European striker next week which strengthens the case for the Jets.
The only question mark over the Jets being the destination is their own ownership situation is still to be resolved. If Stephen Thompson is set to take over the Newcastle licence in the coming weeks, what if any say has he had in the final visa signing?
