Money was a problem, but will there be another try in December?

Aleksandar Dragović (Bayer Leverkusen), Photo: AP / Petr David Josek

What follows is a major rebuild of the rojiblanca defense in the winter transfer window. They were waiting for the sale of Degenek, they were thinking about the opportunity that Strahinja Eraković should be given, and there was the opportunity to sign Aleksandar Dragović, a former member of the Austrian national team. A Vienna Serb with great international experience came into contact with people from the Red Star.

After the season with less minutes, Bayer Leverkusen wanted to remove the strong cap born in 1991 from the payroll. They are aware in the ranks of pharmacists that they will not be able to return the investment in Dragović, especially not in the coronation period, when there are austerity measures in many clubs. Trabzon was the favorite for the transfer of Aleksandar Dragović for a long time, the Turkish club wanted to buy his contract, but the former Austrian member from Vienna, Basel, Dynamo Kiev and Leicester did not want to go to Turkey.

Despite the million dollar salary in Leverkusen, he secretly hoped to move to the Red Star. Because the rojiblancos received information through an intermediary on what conditions they can bring Aleksandar Dragović. Apparently, Leverkusen were willing to send Dragović to Belgrade, if Red Star agrees to pay him 40,000 euros a month. It would be a free transfer, but with one condition: the Serbian champion would be obliged to buy Dragović’s contract during the season, or in June, at a fixed price of 1,200,000 euros. The Austrian cap is tied to pharmacists until June next year, but if Red Star had agreed to Bayer’s terms, Dragović probably would have extended his contract for one more year with the German club, Mozart Sport reports.

Although no one disputes the qualities of Dragović, they estimated in Marakana that his transfer would be a great, great luxury. It was not known during the summer if the Red Star would play in any of the group stages of the European competitions, and if they could make decent money from outgoing transfers. And another player with a great salary would be a severe blow to the club’s coffers.

The Red Star missed an opportunity, but will have a new try in December. Pharmacist coach Peter Bosch does not seriously count on Aleksandar Dragović. This season, he started only two Europa League games against Slavia Prague and Beersheba.

He has minimum minutes in the Bundesliga, he only accumulated 59 minutes. It is clear that he will part ways with the club that bought him from Dynamo Kiev in the summer of 2016 for 20 million euros. Dragović has practically six months left on his contract, which puts him in an excellent position.

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