Luka Modric labelled Manchester United transfer target as ‘miraculous’

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Manchester United are being linked with a move for World Cup hero Dominik Livakovic.

Croatian news outlet Sportske Jutarnji report United could pay the £8.8 million release clause in Livakovic’s contract at Dinamo Zagreb.

So who is Livakovic and what do we need to know about the potential bargain signing?

Dominik Livakovic – All you need to know

Dominik Livakovic is 28, four years younger than current Manchester United number one David de Gea.

He has played his entire club career in Croatia for NK Zagreb, before joining Dinamo Zagreb in 2015. He was loaned back to his former side for a year and has been a regular for Dinamo since 2016.

During this time he has played 289 times for his club, keeping 115 clean sheets, which works out at 39.7 per cent of his matches.

It was at the World Cup where he really shot to prominence, playing a starring role in Croatia’s run to the 2022 semi-finals.

This included penalty shootout heroics against Japan, which saw esteemed teammate Luka Modric brand his performance as ‘miraculous’, via FIFA TV.

Penalties are a little of a speciality. He has saved 14 of 41 faced during matches in his career, 34 per cent, almost double David de Gea’s 18 per cent.

Livakovic has 43 international caps for Croatia in total, making his international debut in 2017.

He was praised by agent Vincenzo Cavaliere, who told TMW: “He had an amazing World Cup. Perhaps he deserved the golden glove because, comparing him to Martinez, he has much better statistics.

“The indicators are point to Livakovic. He made 25 saves to Martinez’s seven. He saved more penalties, he was superior in every way.”

At his club, Livakovic has been used to winning. He has won the Croatian league title for the past five years in a row and they currently look set to add a sixth, 10 points clear at the top. He also has a further two Croatian Cup trophies.

As a bargain addition, Livakovic could add a lot to United. If David de Gea is handed an extension, then making a cheap move for the Croatian number one would add some serious competition.