Everton, Southampton and West Ham United are both reportedly keen on Gent’s Lovre Kalinic.
Gent’s Lovre Kalinic in action with Tottenham’s Christian Eriksen
According to The Sun, Everton, Southampton and West Ham United all scouted Gent’s game against Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday, with goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic believed to be a target.
Gent managed to pull off one of the upsets of the round of 32 in the Europa League, as they drew 2-2 with Tottenham at Wembley to go through 3-2 on aggregate, having won 1-0 in Belgium in the first leg.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s side have been rewarded with a last 16 meeting with Belgian rivals Genk, and their European exploits could trigger interest in key players.
The Sun report that goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic was scouted by a host of Premier League clubs at Wembley on Thursday afternoon, with Everton, Southampton and West Ham United all watching him.
The Croatian international, 26, only joined Gent from Hajduk Split in January, but he has become their first-choice goalkeeper, and his displays are again attracting English interest.
Aston Villa hoped to sign Kalinic in January 2016, but had a work permit application turned down (Birmingham Mail), but he could now qualify as an ‘elite’ player for a Premier League side having stepped up from Hajduk to Gent.
Gent’s Lovre Kalinic in action
It’s claimed that Everton have watched Kalinic as they pursue a new goalkeeper, but Southampton are also keen, given that they may need a replacement for Fraser Forster, who is also a target for Everton and former Saints boss Ronald Koeman.
The most intriguing link may be to West Ham though. Manager Slaven Bilic is a Hajduk hero having started his career with, played for and managed the club, and he may well be familiar with what Kalinic did before moving on to Gent.
Whilst Bilic has Darren Randolph and Adrian San Miguel at his disposal between the sticks, he may see compatriot Kalinic as the man he wants for the long-term, with the report claiming that Bilic admires Kalinic, with a possible £10million move on the cards this summer.
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