SCOUTING REPORT 03
Foreign · left-sided multi-role forward
Ante Rebić
Follows on from Problem A in the match report: "We can't keep the ball on the left flank."
Hyuckjin Han · 2026.09 · FotMob · Transfermarkt · Soccerway · media | free agent status confirmed 2026-09-15, recheck just before contact
A web version of the player report (written September 2026) that grew out of Problem A in Daejeon Hana Citizen's R28 match report — "can't keep the ball on the left flank". Club status is as of writing (2026-09-25). Player photos removed.
Contents
Summary
Recommendation: Ante Rebić (free agent) — one more multi-role forward of the Seo Jin-su type
Why this player
By the numbers
Risks we're not hiding
- Most Met (3) among the 4 candidates with no shortfall
- LW · AM · ST — switches between 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 without a substitution
- Free agent · salary €400k confirmed — signable now the Daejeon way (transfer fee 0)
- Touches in the opponent box 6.11/90 — top candidate, Seo Jin-su 5.41
- Ball retention 1.23 — 3.6× Ludwigson's (0.34)
- Overall percentile 73 among 57 HNL attackers
- 33 · 15 injuries since 2021 · no competitive football since 5/16
- 2 goals in 51 games over the previous two seasons — the rebound is one season only
- Conflicting reports on why he left Hajduk Split (salary / manager)
Next steps
① Re-confirm free-agent status just before contact ② Medical + 2-week training trial ③ Meet player and agent (reasons for leaving, salary demands) ④ Alternative: Maswanhise (expires 2027-05)
Starting point · the match report, Problem A
Couldn't keep the ball received on the left; the answer was to come inside
| R28 scenes (adopted observations) | Data |
|---|---|
| #5 9' — Ludwigson loses it 1 second after receiving with his back to goal | No support → conceded 18 seconds later |
| First half — the left winger vanished from the game | Ludwigson: 12 ball involvements |
| #9 · #8 second half — it opened up once he moved into the half-space | Half-space share 17% → 39%; Bobsin scored from that run |
| 2026 K League 1 | Ludwigson (32) | Seo Jin-su (25) |
|---|---|---|
| Appearances | 1,847 min | 1,446 min |
| Ball retention /90 | 0.34 | 1.36 |
| xG + xA /90 | 0.40 | 0.51 |
| Touches in the opponent box /90 | 3.90 | 5.41 |
| Position | LW · LM | ST · CM · LM · AM · LW |
| 4-4-2 phase (R16–R23) | Wide MF 7 starts · front two 0 | Wide + front two 4 times |
Profile sought — a player who holds the ball on the left, arrives in the box and can step up into a front two during games
Ball retention = (successful dribbles + fouls won − possessions lost) / 90.
Criteria
Four criteria drawn from match scenes — the same yardstick for every route
| Criteria | What we look at (FotMob, latest league season, 900+ min) | Supporting clips | Met | Close | Short |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ball retention | (Successful dribbles + fouls won − possession lost) / 90 | #5 9' loss of possession | 1.36 or above (Seo Jin-su) | 0.34–1.35 | 0.34 or below (Ludwigson) |
| Box entries | Touches in the opponent box / 90 | #9 · #8 second-half solution | 5.41 or above | 3.90–5.40 | Below 3.90 |
| Structural fit | Roles he can fill: wide · centre-forward · No. 10 | #1 4-2-3-1 ↔ 4-4-2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Budget & availability | Salary ≤ KRW 1.91bn (Estimate) · transfer fee 0 or expires 2027-06 | Daejeon: 0 public transfer fees | Free agent · within band | Expires 2027 | Over transfer fee & salary limits |
Recommendation rules
1
Keep only players with no shortfall at all
Dropped if well short on any criterion
2
Of those, the player with the most Met
Number of metrics above the baseline (Seo Jin-su)
3
If equal, players we can sign now
Free agent > expires 2027 > transfer fee
Breadth of the search
130 players identified by name across five routes
130 after removing overlaps between routes. Database free-agent tags lag behind transfers (e.g. Brozović · Ziyech · Salcedo) — all re-checked against 2026-08~09 media.
Route 1 · free agents
Name attacking options with a zero transfer fee — all of them
| Player | Club status | Age | Position | Previous season | Result | Reason flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ante Rebić | Free agent (Hajduk Split, expired 2026-06) | 33 | LW·AM·ST | HNL 1,827 min, 7 goals, 5 assists · rating 7.16 | Recommended | No shortfall · 3 Met · salary €400k confirmed |
| Eddie Salcedo | Rubin Kazan (signed 2026-09-24) | 24 | ST·AM·LW | Greece: 1,871 min, 10 goals, 2 assists | Excluded | Contracted to another club · box 3.27 Short |
| Wilfried Zaha | Free agent (Charlotte loan ended) | 33 | LW | MLS 1,162 min, 3 goals, 1 assist | Excluded | Salary demands · LW only · no match action since May (separate section) |
| Riyad Mahrez | Free agent (Al-Ahli) | 35 | RW·AM | Saudi Arabia: 2,311 min, 4 goals, 8 assists | Excluded | £841k a week · 35 |
| Jadon Sancho | Free agent (Man Utd) | 26 | LW·RW | PL 873 min, 0 goals, 2 assists | Excluded | £300k a week · playing time collapsed |
| Raheem Sterling | Free agent (Chelsea) | 31 | LW·RW | 0 goals in last 25 games | Excluded | £325k a week · output collapsed |
| Anthony Martial | Free agent | 30 | ST | Small sample | Excluded | ST only · reported move to Málaga imminent |
| Myziane Maolida | Free agent (released by Al-Kholood) | 27 | LW·LM·ST | Saudi 24/25: 2,855 min, 15 goals | Excluded | Injuries — 36% of games missed, 22 consecutive games missed |
| Hakim Ziyech | Botafogo (signed 2026-09-11) | 33 | RW·AM | — | Excluded | Contracted to another club (FotMob error) |
| Marcelo Brozović | Al-Sadd (signed 2026-09-14) | 33 | DM | 2,431 min, 29 apps | Excluded | Contracted to another club · No. 6 (FotMob error) |
Of the 28 players examined in detail, the other 18 played under 1,000 min the previous season. The free-agent market is structured as "free agent because he didn't play", not "good but free". Rebić, with 22 league starts last season, is the exception.
Routes 2 · 3 · contracted players
Good data, but blocked by transfer fee · salary
Route 2 · left wingers (aged 32↓ · MV ≤ €5M)
Route 3 · strikers (initial search, budget applied)
| Player | Club | Age | MV | Contract | xG+xA | Reason flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Lind | Hammarby | 23 | €2.3M | 2029-12 | 0.79 | Contract to 2029 → transfer fee · sample 1,577 min |
| Saïd Benrahma | NEOM | 31 | €4.6M | 2027-06 | 0.70 | Saudi salary band |
| Luis Palma | Lech Poznań | 26 | €2.5M | 2029-06 | 0.66 | Contract to 2029 → transfer fee |
| Matteo Di Giusto | Luzern | 26 | €2.6M | 2028-06 | 0.61 | Contract to 2028 → transfer fee |
| Fabian Reese | Hertha BSC | 28 | €2.7M | 2030-06 | 0.61 | Contract to 2030 → transfer fee |
| Andrija Živković | PAOK | 30 | €3.1M | 2027-06 | 0.60 | MV €3.1M → outside route 4 pool (≤ €3M) · creator type |
| Iñigo Vicente | Racing Santander | 28 | €2.1M | 2030-06 | 0.60 | Contract to 2030 → transfer fee (best on ability) |
| Juan Otero | Sporting Gijón | 31 | €990k | 2027-06 | 0.59 | Final comparison — no shortfall |
| Brian Cipenga | Castellón | 28 | €773k | 2029-06 | 0.57 | Contract to 2029 · LW only |
| Khalid Al Ghannam | Al-Ettifaq | 25 | €809k | 2028-06 | 0.51 | Saudi domestic player · box 3.60 Short |
| Léo Scienza | Southampton | 28 | €3.0M | 2029-06 | 0.49 | Contract to 2029 · Championship transfer fee |
| Player | Club | Age | MV | Contract | xG | Reason flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Karol Czubak | Motor Lublin | 26 | €1.5M | 2027-06 | xG 0.50 | ST only · club turned down €2.5M offer |
| Roger Martínez | Al Shabab | 32 | €900k | 2027-06 | xG 0.65 | Salary KRW 1.89–2.08bn (Estimate) · ST only |
| Mikael Ishak | Lech Poznań | 33 | €410k | 2027-06 | 0.76 | ST only · 33 |
| Christian Fassnacht | Young Boys | 32 | €1.1M | 2027-06 | 0.57 | Ball retention −0.08 Short |
| André Silva | FC Porto | 30 | €2M | 2027-06 | 0.58 | Salary KRW 4.61bn (Estimate) · ST only |
| Davie Selke | (Germany) | 31 | — | — | — | Salary KRW 3.46bn (Estimate) |
| Gabigol | Cruzeiro (loan from Santos) | 30 | — | 2028 | — | Salary KRW 8.76bn (Estimate) · loan-end-date trap |
| Mauro Icardi | Free agent | 33 | €4.0M | — | — | Salary KRW 12.1–17.3bn (Estimate) |
Daejeon have never paid a public transfer fee (0). On this route the only realistic name is Otero, whose contract expires 2027-06. Lee Seung-woo (Jeonbuk) is covered in the domestic report's reverse scenario.
Salary estimates from Report 06 (back-calculated from league and club salary bands). MV & contract: FotMob 2026-09. Gabigol's listed contract end date is the loan end date — his permanent contract runs to 2028.
Route 4 · attackers widened
383 players from 38 leagues → 64 on one chart — where is Rebić?
7 passed the 1st cut
Carrasco · Talisca · Kiteishvili · Vá · Grodowski · Arconte · Maswanhise
Rebić was outside this pool
The Croatian league has no FotMob xG, so he didn't pass the "xG+xA ≥ 0.50" condition. Applying the same cut separately, he passes with ball retention 1.23 · box 6.11 · roles 3
Top · left: dropped
Mostly classic No. 9s who only play ST — can't hold the ball or fit only one structure
FotMob, 38 leagues, latest season, attacking positions 1,500+ min, xG+xA ≥ 0.50 → aged 33 or under · MV ≤ €3M · contract to 2027-06 or earlier. Metrics Confirmed for 62 of 64.
Route 4 · full list 1/2
Starting from the 7 who passed the 1st cut — by box touches
| Player | Club | Age | Ball retention | Box | Roles | Result | Reason flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yannick Carrasco | Al Shabab | 33 | 2.76 | 8.00 | 3 | Passed 1st cut | Middle East salary → over budget (top quality) |
| Taïryk Arconte | Millwall | 22 | 1.38 | 6.21 | 3 | Passed 1st cut | 2026-06 long-term contract → transfer fee |
| Tawanda Maswanhise | Motherwell | 23 | 1.44 | 5.43 | 2 | Final comparison | No shortfall · 2 Met |
| Vá | Lillestrøm | 28 | 2.77 | 5.28 | 2 | Passed 1st cut | Loan player (owned by Djurgården) |
| Otar Kiteishvili | Sturm Graz | 30 | 1.78 | 4.91 | 2 | Final comparison | No shortfall · 1 Met |
| Joel Grodowski | Bielefeld | 28 | 1.46 | 4.73 | 3 | Passed 1st cut | 2025 extension (length undisclosed) |
| Talisca | Al-Jazira | 32 | 1.38 | 4.51 | 2 | Passed 1st cut | Middle East salary → over budget |
| Tomás Bobček | Frosinone | 25 | 1.10 | 8.40 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Kevin Rodríguez | Union SG | 26 | 0.54 | 7.99 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.54 · roles 1 |
| Cade Cowell | NY Red Bulls | 22 | -0.11 | 7.76 | 0 | Dropped | Ball retention -0.11 · roles 0 |
| Sam Lammers | PSV Eindhoven | 29 | 1.34 | 7.63 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Brian White | Vancouver | 30 | -0.57 | 6.90 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention -0.57 · roles 1 |
| Mikael Ishak | Lech Poznań | 33 | 1.26 | 6.58 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| German Barkovsky | Polonia Warszawa | 24 | 1.20 | 6.57 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Chris Bedia | Al-Nasr SC | 30 | 1.13 | 6.47 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 · Middle East salary |
| Andrews Tetteh | Panathinaikos | 25 | 4.21 | 6.46 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Player | Club | Age | Ball retention | Box | Roles | Result | Reason flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albian Ajeti | Lugano | 29 | 1.25 | 6.31 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Filippo Pittarello | Pisa | 29 | 1.31 | 6.27 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Roger Martínez | Al Shabab | 32 | 1.52 | 6.15 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 · Middle East salary |
| Mikael | CRB | 27 | 1.35 | 5.96 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Bambasé Conté | Hoffenheim | 23 | 3.16 | 5.87 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Sergi Solans | Real Salt Lake | 23 | 0.54 | 5.84 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.54 · roles 1 |
| Juan Otero | Sporting Gijón | 31 | 1.95 | 5.65 | 1 | Final comparison | Entered via route 2 · 2 Met |
| Joseph Opoku | Swansea City | 21 | 0.62 | 5.46 | 3 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.62 |
| Daan Rots | FC Twente | 25 | 0.95 | 5.43 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.95 · roles 1 |
| Karol Czubak | Motor Lublin | 26 | 0.60 | 5.41 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.60 · roles 1 · transfer fee |
| Mileta Rajović | FC Midtjylland | 27 | 0.20 | 5.36 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.20 · roles 1 |
| Wilfried Kanga | Al Fateh | 28 | 1.14 | 5.27 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 · Middle East salary |
| André Silva | FC Porto | 30 | 0.49 | 5.15 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.49 · roles 1 |
| Christopher Ibayi | MAS Fès | 31 | -0.06 | 5.08 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention -0.06 · roles 1 |
| Jesús Ramírez | Çorum FK | 28 | 0.68 | 5.04 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.68 · roles 1 |
1st cut: ball retention ≥ 1.0 · box touches ≥ 4.5 · 2+ of LW/ST/AM (roles). Grey = below cut. "Final comparison" = candidates with no shortfall, compared later.
Route 4 · full list 2/2
The rest — mostly single-role or failed on ball retention
| Player | Club | Age | Ball retention | Box | Roles | Result | Reason flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexandre Mendy | Al-Faisaly | 32 | 1.17 | 4.99 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 · Middle East salary |
| Kingstone Mutandwa | Servette | 23 | 0.34 | 4.96 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.34 · roles 1 |
| Jay-Roy Grot | OB | 28 | -0.26 | 4.81 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention -0.26 · roles 1 |
| Filip Stojilković | Rapid București | 26 | 0.18 | 4.78 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.18 · roles 1 |
| Mohamed Bayo | Samsunspor | 28 | -0.23 | 4.75 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention -0.23 · roles 1 |
| Dame Gueye | Le Mans | 31 | 0.73 | 4.64 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.73 · roles 1 |
| Rafael Navarro | St. Louis City | 26 | 2.27 | 4.57 | 1 | Dropped | Roles 1 |
| Gustavo Coutinho | Atlético-GO | 27 | 1.33 | 4.46 | 1 | Dropped | Box 4.46 · roles 1 |
| Álex Millán | Leganés | 26 | 1.60 | 4.45 | 1 | Dropped | Box 4.45 · roles 1 |
| Ibrahima Baldé | Lorient | 23 | 0.94 | 4.33 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.94 · box 4.33 · roles 1 |
| Jordy Caicedo | Huracán | 28 | 0.13 | 4.25 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.13 · box 4.25 · roles 1 |
| Marius Bülter | 1. FC Köln | 33 | 0.74 | 4.24 | 3 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.74 · box 4.24 |
| Christian Fassnacht | Young Boys | 32 | -0.08 | 4.23 | 2 | Dropped | Ball retention -0.08 · box 4.23 |
| Erik Botheim | Viking | 26 | 1.42 | 4.20 | 1 | Dropped | Box 4.20 · roles 1 |
| Jesús Jiménez | Termalica | 32 | 1.01 | 4.20 | 3 | Dropped | Box 4.20 |
| Robbie Muirhead | Livingston | 30 | 0.70 | 4.18 | 2 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.70 · box 4.18 |
| Player | Club | Age | Ball retention | Box | Roles | Result | Reason flagged |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Léo | Kashima Antlers | 31 | 1.51 | 4.16 | 1 | Dropped | Box 4.16 · roles 1 |
| Sam Smith | Wrexham | 28 | 0.27 | 4.16 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.27 · box 4.16 · roles 1 |
| Keisuke Goto | Freiburg | 21 | 0.66 | 4.12 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.66 · box 4.12 · roles 1 |
| Giovani Versini | Brest | 22 | 1.05 | 4.10 | 1 | Dropped | Box 4.10 · roles 1 |
| Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC | 31 | 0.54 | 4.06 | 3 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.54 · box 4.06 |
| Robert Morales | Pumas | 27 | 0.56 | 4.04 | 3 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.56 · box 4.04 |
| Barbero | Arouca | 28 | 0.05 | 3.97 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.05 · box 3.97 · roles 1 |
| Aleksandar Ćirković | Jagiellonia | 25 | 2.24 | 3.84 | 1 | Dropped | Box 3.84 · roles 1 |
| Borja Iglesias | Celta Vigo | 33 | 0.38 | 3.50 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.38 · box 3.50 · roles 1 |
| Younes Taha | FC Twente | 23 | -0.17 | 3.37 | 3 | Dropped | Ball retention -0.17 · box 3.37 |
| Mohammed Ihattaren | Fortuna Sittard | 24 | 0.97 | 3.01 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.97 · box 3.01 · roles 1 |
| Ryotaro Ito | St.Truiden | 28 | 1.08 | 2.60 | 1 | Dropped | Box 2.60 · club mismatch |
| Marlon Ritter | Kaiserslautern | 31 | 1.68 | 2.52 | 2 | Dropped | Box 2.52 |
| Albert Rusnák | Seattle | 32 | 0.10 | 2.15 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.10 · box 2.15 · roles 1 |
| Vincenzo Grifo | Freiburg | 33 | 0.42 | 2.05 | 1 | Dropped | Ball retention 0.42 · box 2.05 · roles 1 |
1st cut: ball retention ≥ 1.0 · box touches ≥ 4.5 · 2+ of LW/ST/AM (roles). Grey = below cut. "Final comparison" = candidates with no shortfall, compared later.
Recheck · Wilfried Zaha
Re-checked the biggest name — not possible in 2026, conditional in January 2027
| Item | Confirmed facts (as of 2026-09-25) | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Club | Free agent (last confirmed 9/22). Olympiacos considering without a formal offer; coach wants a fitness check. Greek free-agent registration deadline 9/29 | Close |
| Salary demand | "€4m" comes from a single Brazilian YouTube channel — net vs gross Unconfirmed. Mexican reports: $2.5–3.5M a year | Short |
| Salary received | Galatasaray €4.35M a year (club disclosure) · Charlotte 2026 guaranteed salary $2.75M → 2–3× Daejeon's top earner (about KRW 1.9bn) | Short |
| Asian interest | One report of monitoring by Al-Riyadh (Saudi). No reported interest from Korea, Japan, China or Australia | Close |
| Fitness | No competitive football since May (4+ months). Both Roma (9/8) and Olympiacos raised concerns over his fitness | Short |
| Discipline | Charlotte 2025: 10 yellow cards · play-off suspension. Reports on training attitude at Lyon. "Off-pitch issues" report: original source unconfirmed | Close |
| Criterion A | Ball retention 3.48 Met · box 5.50 Met · structure: LW only, Short · budget Short | Short |
Conditions that could be met in January 2027 (all required): still a free agent until December + demands drop to €1.3–1.6M (gross) + medical and reputation checks passed. If a smaller European club makes an offer, the chance is effectively zero — one to monitor, not to recommend.
Sources: thrylos24 (9/22) · athletiko (9/21) · FogãoNET (9/8) · El Futbolero (8/29) · Spotrac · Yahoo (Galatasaray) · asromalive (9/8) · Africafoot (9/11).
Reverse scenario · foreign No. 6
What if we look abroad for a No. 6? — plenty clear the bar
| Player | Club | Age | Distribution | Recovery | MV · contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roman Macek | Sparta Prague | 29 | 1.20 | 1.39 | €138k · not listed |
| Deybi Flores | FotMob free agent | 30 | 1.17 | 1.09 | €244k · free-agent status to be confirmed |
| Dudu Miraíma | São Bernardo | 26 | 1.58 | 0.97 | Not listed |
| Abdoulaye Doumbia | Häcken | 18 | 1.14 | 1.61 | Not listed · 18 |
| Uran Bislimi | Lugano | 27 | 1.10 | 0.92 | €1.6M · 2027-06 |
| Tobías Reinhart | U. de Chile | 26 | 1.08 | 1.01 | €457k |
| Eder González | Asteras Tripolis | 29 | 1.08 | 1.06 | €143k · 2027-06 |
| Marino Illescas | AD Ceuta | 25 | 1.05 | 1.15 | €289k · 2027-06 |
| Felix Winther | Fredericia | 26 | 1.05 | 1.28 | €320k · 2027-06 |
| A. Mekvabishvili | Chicago Fire | 25 | 1.05 | 0.97 | €1.6M |
| Raul | Cuiabá | 30 | 1.01 | 1.01 | €854k |
| Kai Klefisch | Darmstadt | 26 | 1.01 | 0.97 | €928k |
| John Buckley | Al Kholood | 26 | 1.01 | 1.01 | €1.2M · Saudi Arabia |
| Franck Kanouté | Radnički Niš | 27 | 1.00 | 1.66 | €160k · 2027-06 |
| Player | Club | Age | Distribution | Recovery | MV · contract |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dylan Tait | Dundee United | 24 | 1.00 | 1.14 | €517k |
| Matheus Bueno | Kashima Antlers | 28 | 0.99 | 1.31 | €644k |
| Ivan Zhelizko | Ludogorets | 25 | 0.98 | 1.18 | €2.5M |
| Orbelín Pineda | Monterrey | 30 | 0.97 | 1.15 | €2.4M |
| Christ Inao Oulaï | Fiorentina | 20 | 0.97 | 1.04 | €2M |
| Darko Nejašmić | NEC Nijmegen | 27 | 0.96 | 1.27 | €1.8M · 2027-06 |
| Kader Keïta | Al Riyadh | 25 | 0.96 | 1.22 | €868k · Saudi Arabia |
| Tudor Băluță | U. Craiova | 27 | 0.94 | 1.04 | €725k · 2027-06 |
| Cristiano | Atlético-GO | 26 | 0.93 | 0.97 | Not listed |
| Abdellah Baallal | Clermont | 21 | 0.93 | 1.11 | €1.4M · 2027-06 |
| Loreintz Rosier | Abha | 28 | 0.92 | 1.01 | €443k · Saudi Arabia |
| C. Grameni | Rapid București | 23 | 0.92 | 1.12 | €932k |
| Nelson Palacio | Toronto FC | 25 | 0.92 | 1.11 | €882k · 2026-12 |
| Teun Gijselhart | Al-Ain | 21 | 0.90 | 1.14 | €1.2M · UAE |
28 passed: of DM·CM with 1,500+ min across 38 leagues, 187 with both indices ≥ 0.90 → aged 30 or under · MV ≤ €3M · contract to 2027-06 or earlier/unlisted. 18 reviewed early and filtered out: Cognat (Servette) · Watt (Motherwell) — outside contract filter (transfer fee) · Kosti (Levadiakos) — dropped at 2nd filter · Taferner · Vlak · Agougil · Muhar — outside 1,500-min pool · Mehmeti — data error (17 · 1,962 min) · Bissouma (605 min · MV €10.8M) · R. Sanches (598 min) · Ndombélé (618 min) · Dahoud (716 min) · Vecino (35) · Pogba (115 min) — "free agent because he didn't play" · Pedri · Locatelli · Modrić — 1st list before the budget filter, withdrawn
FotMob distribution = (accurate passes/55.6 + accurate long passes/2.89) ÷ 2, recovery = (tackles + interceptions + recoveries)/8.14 — Kim Bong-soo K1 2026 = 1.00.
Conclusion of the reverse scenario
Roles Koreans can fill, and roles they can't
Domestic players
Foreign
Distributing No. 6
Problem B
Yes
2 candidates with no shortfall — Han Chan-hee · Jeong Ho-yeon
48 from K League 2 · 37 from K League 1 · 15 abroad reviewed
Many
28 candidates above the criteria
Macek · Illescas · Winther etc.
Multi-role left forward
Problem A
None
0 passed the criteria
24 attacking players in K League 2. K1's Lee Seung-woo passes on ability, not signable
Yes
4 candidates with no shortfall — Rebić and others
Maswanhise · Otero · Kiteishvili
Conclusion
Foreign slots go where a Korean player can't fill the role.
A distributing No. 6 can be found at home. A multi-role forward like Seo Jin-su does not exist in the Korean market.
→ Domestic No. 6 + foreign forward
The reverse combination (domestic forward + foreign No. 6) doesn't work: a foreign No. 6 can be found, but the domestic forward slot stays empty.
Final comparison
Four candidates with no shortfall — Rebić has the most Met
| Candidate | Club | Age | Ball retention | Box entries | Structure | Budget & availability | Criteria met | Decision |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rebić | Free agent | 33 | Close 1.23 | Met 6.11 | Met LW·AM·ST | Met free agent · €400k | 3 | Recommended — available now |
| Maswanhise | Motherwell | 23 | Met 1.44 | Met 5.43 | Close ST·RW·LW | Close: expires 2027-05 | 2 | Long-term No. 1 target — 22 goals in all competitions |
| Otero | Sporting Gijón | 31 | Met 1.95 | Met 5.65 | Close ST·RW | Close: expires 2027-06 | 2 | Free in summer 2027 — left-side play Confirmed |
| Kiteishvili | Sturm Graz | 30 | Met 1.78 | Close 4.91 | Close AM·CM·LW | Close: expires 2027-06 | 1 | Box entries below the criteria |
| Palma | Lech Poznań | 26 | Met 1.96 | Close 5.38 | Met 5 positions | Short: contract to 2029 | — | Transfer fee |
| Benrahma | NEOM | 31 | Met 1.37 | Close 4.86 | Met LM·AM·LW·ST | Short: Saudi salary | — | Salary |
| Al-Ghannam | Al-Ettifaq | 25 | Met 2.40 | Short 3.60 | Met LW·LM·AM·ST | Short: Saudi domestic | — | Box · availability |
| Carrasco | Al-Shabab | 33 | Met 2.76 | Met 8.00 | Met LW·LM·AM·ST | Short: Saudi salary | — | Top quality, salary |
| Zaha | Free agent | 33 | Met 3.48 | Met 5.50 | Short LW | Short: salary demands | — | Single role · salary |
Met: Seo Jin-su (baseline) or above · Close: between Ludwigson and Seo Jin-su · Short: Ludwigson level or below, or signing obstacle
By the rules: ① no shortfall → 4 players ② most Met → Rebić (3) ③ available now → Rebić (free agent). Maswanhise, at 23, has the highest asset value but is under contract until 2027-05.
Final comparison
Candidate map benchmarked on Ludwigson · Seo Jin-su
Rebić has the most box entries
1st among the 4 with no shortfall at 6.11 — the type closest to the second-half fix (#9 · #8)
Rebić has the lowest ball retention
1.23 is slightly below Seo Jin-su (1.36) but 3.6× Ludwigson (0.34) — Rebić's weaker axis
Grey ×
Players with good data but excluded on salary · transfer fee · contract · single role
FotMob metrics from each player's latest league season (900+ min). Leagues differ; no strength adjustment applied.
Player profile
Ante Rebić — six attributes
Ante Rebić
Free agent · LW/AM/ST · 33 · right-footed
73
OVR
Among 57 HNL attackers
Average percentile across 6 metrics
| Item | Value | Percentile | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goals scored | 0.34 | 76 | Goals/90 |
| Chances created | 0.69 | 97 | Big chances created/90 |
| Dribbles | 1.7 | 84 | Successful/90 |
| Shots | 2.4 | 64 | /90 |
| Link-up passes | 15.1 | 46 | Accurate passes/90 |
| Defensive contribution | 6.5 | 73 | Tackles+interceptions+recoveries/90 |
| OVR | 73 |
Teal solid line = Rebić, grey dotted line = pool median (50). Chances created 97 is top 3%; link-up passing 46 is below the median.
OVR is not a game-style absolute rating but a relative position among 57 attacking players with 900+ min in the Croatian top flight (HNL). Speed and physicality cannot be measured from public data, so they are excluded. HNL provides no xG.
Conclusion
Why Rebić out of 130?
21.09.1993 · Croatia · right-footed
Eintracht Frankfurt → AC Milan (2022 Serie A winners) → Beşiktaş → Lecce → Hajduk Split
2018 World Cup runner-up
- 01
Fits all three structures
LW · AM · ST — switches between the nominal 4-2-3-1 and the out-of-possession 4-4-2 (#1) without a substitution. Ludwigson played only wide in R16–R23 and never started in a front two. Exactly the "one more Seo Jin-su type" the brief asks for.
- 02
A player who gets into the box
Touches in the opponent box 6.11/90 — top among candidates with no shortfall, higher than Seo Jin-su (5.41). Ball retention of 1.23, 3.6× Ludwigson's, answers the loss in the 9th-minute scene (#5).
- 03
Available now, the Daejeon way
Free agent = transfer fee 0 (consistent with Daejeon's 0 public transfer fees). Salary €400k confirmed (≈ KRW 620m); reported ceiling from rival interest €800k (≈ KRW 1.24bn) still within the top foreign-player band of KRW 1.91bn.
Quality check ① · 2025-26 Hajduk Split
Side by side with Ludwigson · Seo Jin-su on the same metrics
Per 90
| HNL 2025-26 (league) | Value |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 1,827 min · 26 apps (22 starts) |
| Goals · Assists | 7 · 5 |
| Rating (FotMob) | 7.16 |
| Chances created /90 | 1.53 |
| Possessions lost /90 | 1.92 |
| xG · xA | Not provided (HNL) |
Similar profile to Seo Jin-su but gets into the box more often. Weak point is possessions lost (1.92/90) — he loses it as often as he attempts dribbles.
FotMob HNL 2025-26 league. No league-strength adjustment. All competitions: 30 apps, 7 goals, 5 assists (FotMob) — Croatian media count 6–7 assists.
Quality check ② · career trajectory
Peak → two poor seasons → rebound at Hajduk Split — the rebound is only one season so far
Goals + assists per match (all competitions)
| Club | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eintracht Frankfurt (2016–19) | 100 | 25 | 10 |
| AC Milan (2019–20, loan) | 30 | 12 | 4 |
| AC Milan (2020–23) | 93 | 17 | 10 |
| Beşiktaş (2023–24) | 23 | 1 | 4 |
| Lecce (2024–25) | 28 | 1 | 0 |
| Hajduk Split (2025–26) | 30 | 7 | 5 |
Without adjustment: a starter in Milan's title-winning season, but only 2 goals in 51 apps over 2023–25. The Hajduk Split revival (12 goal contributions in 30 apps) is one season in the Croatian league; whether it lasts is covered by the training trial and a 1+1 contract structure.
FotMob career (all competitions). Eintracht Frankfurt 18/19 includes matches before his 2019-09 move.
Practical conditions
Can we sign him? — What is confirmed and what is not
| Item | Fact | Assessment | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Free agent. Hajduk Split contract expired 2026-06-30; rejected the club's renewal offer (club statement 6/11) | Transfer fee 0 | Confirmed |
| Current status | 9/15 Croatian media: free agent. The "Rijeka move" rumour came from a betting-site post — no club confirmation | Must recheck just before contact | Confirmed |
| Salary benchmark | Hajduk Split €400k/season ≈ KRW 620m. €600–800k reported if Frosinone show interest (6/8) ≈ KRW 0.93–1.24bn | Daejeon foreign-player average around KRW 986m | Reported |
| Required level | Reports cite "unhappiness with the salary offered" as why renewal talks collapsed → he may ask for more than €400k | Even the €800k ceiling sits within the top band of KRW 1.91bn | Reported |
| Foreign player registration | 2026 K League 1: foreign-player quota abolished, 5 on the pitch at once | Low registration burden | Confirmed |
| Age | 33 (21.09.1993), turns 34 during the 2027 season | 1+1 years, extension at club's option | Confirmed |
| Timing | 2026 summer window closed → realistic registration is winter 2027 | Another club could sign him in the meantime | Estimate |
Exchange rate assumed €1 ≈ KRW 1,550. Budget band derived from league salary disclosures (2025) and the Lingard precedent (31.8% of FC Seoul's total foreign-player wage bill).
Concern ① · Fitness
15 injuries since 2021 — and no competitive football since May
| Confirmed facts |
|---|
| 2021–26: 15 injuries · longest 2024-03~07 thigh · 2022 back, 1 month · recurring muscle injuries |
| Collision v Osijek on 2026-04-21 → concussion, back after missing 2 matches |
| Fewer minutes late in the season: 29 min on 4/12, 28 min on 5/9, unused on 5/22 |
| As of 9/25, 4+ months without competitive football; around 9 months by the start of 2027 (Estimate) |
| So what is needed |
|---|
| Detailed medical — thigh · back · concussion history |
| 2-week training trial — fitness and match sharpness after time as a free agent |
| Appearance-linked contract — 1+1, option held by the club |
Injuries: Soccerway injury records (2021–2026). Concussion: Sportklub (2026-05-01) and others. Appearances: FotMob match records.
Concern ② · Full list
Nothing hidden — starting with what could overturn the recommendation, plus our response
| Impact | Concerns | Fact | Meaning | Response |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High | Fitness · time out of competitive play | 15 injuries (2021–26), no match action since 5/16 | May take time to get up to speed early in the season | Medical · training trial |
| High | Poor previous 2 seasons | 2 goals in 51 games at Beşiktaş & Lecce. The rebound was one HNL season | Hajduk Split may have been the exception | 1+1 contract · appearance-linked incentives |
| High | Age | 33, turns 34 during the 2027 season | Zero asset value, declining curve | Extension option held by the club |
| Medium | Conflicting reports on why he left | Club: rejected renewal / Media: salary mismatch / Some: rift with coach | Higher salary demand · attitude risk | Interview · Hajduk Split reference check |
| Medium | Discipline | Sent off v Vukovar on 2025-12-21. History of criticising the federation and being dropped from the national team after Euro 2020 | Suspended | Interview · contract clauses |
| Medium | Possessions lost | 1.92/90 — ball retention of 1.23 is the lowest of the 4 with no shortfall | Risk of the 9' scene repeating | Share flank and front-two duties with Seo Jin-su to cut down back-to-goal situations |
| Low | Data gap | HNL provides no xG; no league-strength adjustment | Chance quality cannot be verified | Supplemented with non-xG metrics such as box touches · chance creation |
| Low | Free-agent verdict | Final check: media 9/15 — databases are slow to reflect transfers | He may already have signed elsewhere | Recheck just before contact |
Role at Daejeon
Putting Rebić into the R28 scenes
| Scene | What happened in R28 | Rebić's answer | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shape change | Nominal 4-2-3-1, 4-4-2 out of possession (#1). Ludwigson stayed only on the flank | From LW into a front two mid-game — changes shape without a substitution | LW · AM · ST · front-two experience at Eintracht Frankfurt |
| Goal conceded, 9' | Lost the ball within a second after receiving with back to goal (#5) | Shields the ball and wins fouls to buy time | Ball retention 1.23 (Ludwigson 0.34) |
| Second-half solution | Unlocked through the half-space · box entries (#9 · #8) | How often he gets into the box | Box touches 6.11 (Seo Jin-su 5.41) |
# numbers refer to the adopted observations in the match report.
Contract design and alternatives
Sign him now, but spread the risk through the contract structure
Contract design (Lingard precedent)
Order of alternatives
| Period | 1+1 years, option held by the club |
|---|---|
| Salary | €400–800k (about KRW 0.6–1.2bn) |
| Compensation | Linked to appearances · goal contributions |
| Conditions | Medical + 2-week trial |
| Interview | Head coach · player · agent |
| 1 | Maswanhise (Motherwell, 23) — expires 2027-05 |
|---|---|
| 2 | Otero (Gijón, 31) — free in summer 2027 |
| 3 | Zaha — monitor only (2027-01 condition) |
| Internal | More time for Seo Jin-su on the left and in a front two |
Exchange rate assumed €1 ≈ KRW 1,550. Salary bands and budget cap based on league disclosures · Lingard precedent.
Appendix
Data · definitions · limits
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Data | FotMob player season metrics (latest league season, 900+ min) · position, age, contract, market value (2026-09-25) · Transfermarkt free-agent DB top 300 · Soccerway injury records · media, 2026-06~09 |
| Ball retention | (Successful dribbles + fouls won − possession lost) / 90 |
| Box entries | Touches inside the opponent penalty area / 90 |
| Verdict | Met = Seo Jin-su or above · Close = between Ludwigson and Seo Jin-su · Short = Ludwigson or below, or signing obstacle |
| OVR | Average of percentiles on 6 metrics among 57 HNL attacking players with 900+ min. Not an absolute rating |
| Limitations | No league-level adjustment · no xG for HNL (Rebić assessed separately with the same cut, outside the extended pool) · salary evidence only for Rebić · Zaha · Mahrez · Sancho |