VfL Wolfsburg forward Ivica Olic has talked up a potential summer move to the English Premier League amid uncertainty regarding his future at the Volkswagen Arena.
The Croatia international, 34, moved to Germany from Russian Premier League giants CSKA Moscow in January 2007 and has gone on to score a total of 58 goals in 180 Bundesliga appearances for Hamburger SV, Bayern Munich and Wolfsburg.
Olic, who joined Wolfburg from Bayern in the summer of 2012, has been in fine form Die Wölfe this term, tallying nine goals and two assists in 24 appearances in all competitions.
The 34-year-old has an option to stay in Wolfsburg at the end of the season but has yet to make a decision regarding his future.
A bevy of English Premier League clubs would surely been keen on bringing in the Croatian star in the summer. In fact, according to reports, Stoke City have already expressed an interest in the former Bayern Munich striker.
“I can prolong in Wolfsburg for one more year, and would also have an option for another year,” Olic told WAZ.
“What the club has offered me is okay, I am satisfied with that, but I don’t know if I will stay.
“As a young player my dream was to play in the Premier League. The option never really came up after that.
“Now, at this age, I may have that chance. To play against Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool one more time, that excites me.”
Olic is priced at 6/1 to open the scoring when Wolfsburg play host to Bayer Leverkusen on Saturday, 22 February 2014.
Sporting ace attracting EPL interest
A host of English clubs are reportedly keeping tabs on Sporting winger Carlos Mane, according to Sky Sports.
The Portugal Under-19 international has broken into the Sporting first-team this season after impressing manager Leonardo Jardim with a number of eye-catching performances for the B-team.
Scottish giants Celtic and Manchester United have been linked with the 19-year-old winger in the past but other clubs are expected to enter the race for the teenager’s signature this summer.
However, Mane is under contract at Sporting until 30 June 2018, meaning that the club could afford to reject any bid that does not meet their valuation of the player.
“Carlos is concentrating on maintaining a place in the Sporting first team,” Dan Chapman of Full Contact told Sky Sports.
“2014 has started really well for him, and he has scored three goals so far, but we should not forget he has yet to make more than ten first-team appearances.
“He also enjoys a long-term contract at Sporting, they value him highly and so it is premature to be talking of a move.
“That said, I am aware of a number of clubs with real interest and who are keeping tabs on him, and it has to be said that whilst a move to the Premier League is the ultimate goal for Carlos at some point in the future – just one reason being that he has family in the UK already – some Bundesliga and Serie A clubs might appear to be more advanced in their interest at this stage.”
Despite his recent success, Mane is unlikely to represent Portugal at the World Cup in Brazil, with the likes of Bruma, Cristiano Ronaldo, Danny, Éder, Hélder Postiga, Hugo Almeida, Nani and Silvestre Varela ahead of him in Paulo Bento’s pecking order.
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