Aberdeen interested in Varazdin midfielder Tonio Teklic with Croatian in final year of contract

Aberdeen have been linked with a potential move for Croatian midfielder Tonio Teklic.

The playmaker is entering the final year of his contract at FK Varazdin, who are reluctantly willing to sell the player this summer in order to avoid losing him on a free transfer next year. Teklic has reportedly made it clear he’s keen to move on for a new challenge ahead of the new season, as player power continues to grow in football.

And according to Croatian outlet Germanijak, Barry Robson and the Dons are pursuing a transfer for the 23-year old. Teklic was a standout performer in the Croatian top-flight last season, bagging eight goals and three assists in 33 appearances as Varazdin finished in sixth place in the table, missing out on European qualification by just three points.

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The midfielder started his professional career with Hadjuk Split, before loan spells with NK Hrvatski Dragovoljac and Varazdin. He then signed for the latter on a permanent deal last summer, after impressing on loan in the 2021/22 campaign.

Teklic has represented his country from U19 right up to U23 level, and will hope that a bigger move abroad can improve his chances of earning a call-up to the senior squad.

Reds boss Robson is currently in the midst of rebuilding his squad ahead of Aberdeen’s return to European competition.

Their third place finish in the Premiership last season (coupled with Celtic winning the Scottish Cup) means that the Dons will enter the play-off stage in qualifying for the UEFA Europa League, with just a two-legged tie separating them from the group stage.