Adelaide United is keen to secure the services of Mario Karlovic after the midfielder played his last game for Brisbane Roar at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday.
The 25-year-old has been with the Roar on a short-term deal since September after being brought in to cover the injured Massimo Murdocca.
Karlovic was born in Adelaide, played for Adelaide City Force before heading to Italy to further his career.
United coach Aurelio Vidmar indicated he was interested in signing the midfielder in his post-match media conference.
“We’ve spoken to his agent but that’s all we’ve done at this point at time,” he said.
Roar coach Ange Postecoglou said the club wished Karlovic all the best for the future.
“He did a great job for us. He came to the club at a time where unfortunately all the turmoil was happening, change of coaches and the club going on a bad run,” Postecoglou said.
“To his credit he worked hard and was very professional and I think he did a good job for us.”
“But we are at a point now where for me I’ve got a group of players I want to work with until the end of the year and make some decisions on. With injured players coming back we’ll be right to cover it.”
Karlovic’s signature would be a bonus for the Reds who have already signed Nigel Boogaard in preparation for the upcoming Asian Champions League.
Vidmar said the Mariners player would add further depth to his squad.
“I think that’s a fantastic signing ….he was really keen to come here and we are really happy to have him, I think he’s got a fair bit of experience for such a young defender and he’s going to add a lot of value to our team,” he said.
Recruitment coups are the only good news stories coming from Adelaide United at the moment with the wasteful Reds missing another opportunity to collect competition points at home.
United had five more shots on goal and went into their penalty area 15 times more than the Roar but still lost their Round 14 match 2-0.
Vidmar said his side doesn’t have the ability at the moment to put the ball into the back of the net.
“We have to continue working hard and try and get that right. I think it’s been the whole issue for most of the year,” he said.
“They put in the effort, they absolutely put in the effort, they don’t go out onto the park to play poorly, they put in the effort tonight and the stats suggest that. We are just missing that little bit of quality to put those goals away.”
