Nikola Vlasic is on the verge of a move to Everton, according to the English media briefing from Goodison Park, but in Croatia it’s not so straightforward.
Hajduk Split would like the deal financially, of course, with Everton’s money making the bank balance more secure, but losing Vlasic will have serious implications on the pitch.
There are even suggestions in the Croatian media that it’s a choice between a title challenge or Everton’s money.
Hajduk’s president Ivan Kos is quoted by Sportske Jutarnji as saying: “I would not comment on the possibilities around Vlasic because each of my sentences can be interpreted like this or that, and I don’t like to talk about things I cannot say with certainty. We’ll keep track of how things are going.
“Transfers runs until August 31st, sometimes the transfers end a minute before midnight. We don’t want to lose one percent of the quality. We also have to think about financial stability.”
Kos sounds very much like a president ready to let his player go, albeit it with a heavy heart and only if the price from Everton is right.
Croatia’s Index quote the player’s agent, Nikola Martic, as saying: “We haven’t yet 
received an official offer, but we’ll see if things can develop by the end of the transfer period.”
Tuesday’s edition of Croatian newspaper 24Sata explains there are signs an Everton transfer is ‘near realisation’, but there’s also the dilemma.
Whilst it may be small there’s the chance Hajduk try and take a risk, offer Vlasic a new contract, hopefully win the league, and then sell the 19 year old for more than they’d get now.
