6 Jul 2016

Offer Made: 'Amazing' €15m sensation who's like 'Modric' wants Liverpool transfer. Klopp called him in May

After the signing of Sadio Mane last week, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is reportedly closing in on another potentially exciting transfer.

According to the Daily Mail:

"Liverpool have made contact with Zagreb over Ante Coric, [who is] keen to join them".

Croatian news outlet tportal further claims:

"Liverpool have submitted a €15m offer for Coric. Klopp wants him before the USA tour".

Some info about the allegedly 'amazing' Coric:

* Attacking midfielder (central), who can also play in central midfield. 11 goals/15 assists (26) in 80 apps (One every 155 mins). 2 apps for Croatia.

* May 2016: Croatian newspaper Sportski Novoski claimed that Klopp personally called Coric to discuss a transfer.

* Feb 2015: Zagreb President Zdravko Mamić's enthused: "He [Coric] is better than Boban or Prosinečki were at the same stage. I am impressed."

* Dec 2015: Dinamo boss Zoran Mamic raved: "Ante is a treasure for our club. He is a better talent than Modrić and Kovačić were at his age."

Rare praise indeed, but Coric should simply ignore the ridiculous hype and follow his own advice, which he outlined in April:

"I have a contract with Dinamo for four more seasons. I think I will stay put for two more years or so. I am still only 19."

Exactly. Football is littered with cautionary tales of overhyped teenagers who signed for massive clubs far too early, and then ended up on the scrapheap and/or behind in their development. Coric doesn't need to leave Zagreb right now:

* He's already a Croatia international, and a first-team regular.

* Zagreb are in the Champions League next season, which will allow him to test himself against the best.

What is the point in leaving Champions League football to sign for Liverpool, who are not even in Europe?

Don't get me wrong: Coric looks like a potentially great player, but he's arguably better off staying and developing at Zagreb. To that point, Coric should consider the experiences of fellow Croatian Alen Halilovic:

* Signed for Barcelona in 2014. Made just *one* senior appearance, then farmed out on loan to La Liga minnows Sporting Gijon, and obviously didn't get to play in the Champions League.

* Unlike Coric (who did play in the Champions League last season), Halilovic failed to make the Croatia Euro 2016 squad, even though he is the older player.

Mateo Kovacic followed a similar career path to Halilovic, and he is also struggling for game time at Real Madrid.

The brutal truth is this: If Coric sells out and signs for Liverpool, he - like Halilovic - will stunt his development, and (possibly) miss out on Champions League football for the next 2+ years.



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