Injured Socceroos back Ivan Franjic is reportedly close to signing with Russian club Torpedo Moscow.
Torpedo president Alexander Tukmanov was on Thursday quoted by Russian agency R-Sport that “almost all of the agreements regarding the transfer” have been reached with his A-League club Brisbane Roar.
The 26-year-old started at right back in Australia’s 3-1 loss to Chile at the recent World Cup.
His first-half cross was headed home by Tim Cahill for the Socceroos’ goal, but Franjic later pulled a hamstring, was substituted and subsequently ruled out of the rest of the tournament.
If the transfer goes through, Franjic will become the only Australian playing in the top Russian league after Luke Wilkshire was released by Dynamo Moscow earlier this month after six seasons at the club.
Franjic has played 113 games for the Roar and won three A-League titles.
The coming season will be Torpedo Moscow’s first in the Russian Premier League since 2006.
TK
Guest
Good for Franjic, but we will miss watching him go about his work at Suncorp. One of my favourite Roar 'midfielders' playing as a fullback.
Murray Bond
Guest
A bit spewing to loose Ivan, but interested to see what Jack Hingert can do.
Evan Askew
Guest
Did he know how?
AZ_RBB
Guest
"something which is putting people off" He was allegedly dropped from the Socceroos squad for poor attitude. Apparently he refused to download a fitness and diet app that Postecoglou wanted every player to use.
Jayden
Guest
You take where you can, maybe no other club has come in? As for Wilkshere, maybe he wants a marquee position or something which is putting people off? I've always liked him though, wouldn't mind seeing him in the A-League.
midfield general
Guest
Of all countries Ivan could have gone to did it have to be Russia, in view of current political climate? Re: Wilkshire - feel sad for him, surely he's good enough for an A League gig, but it seems no one wants him.
Franko
Guest
Good news if it goes through for Ivan. Wilkshire has now gone a while without a club and reportedly is not in his best frame of mind, perhaps it is the end of the road for him?