Arsenal and Spurs target Alen Halilovic set to stay in Croatia despite World Cup doubts

ARSENAL and Tottenham target Alen Halilovic is set to remain in Croatia after seeing former teammates Mateo Kovacic and Tin Jedvaj struggle after moving to Inter Milan and Roma respectively.

Alen Halilovic is set to stay at Dinamo Zagreb [GETTY]

Halilovic is one of Europe's most sought after talents and was heavily linked with a move to both Arsenal and Tottenham at the end of the summer window.

The 17-year-old is now regarded as the best player in the domestic league after putting in sparkling performances with Dinamo Zagreb but doubts remain about whether he will be selected for Croatia's World Cup squad.

Halilovic has three caps for Croatia, but all of them have come in friendlies and the youngster could still opt to change his allegiance to Bosnia and Herzegovina, who have also booked their place in Brazil this summer.

But Dinamo executive director Zdravko Mamic believes should not be punished for opting to stay in Croatia and has called on Croatian Football Federation president Davor Suker to resign if Halilovic is not part of Niko Kavac's squad for the World Cup.

Mamic told Jutarnji List: "If Alen Halilovic does not go to the World Cup, the whole of the Croatian football leadership, headed by President Suker, should resign."

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Mateo Kovacic has struggled at Inter [GETTY]

We do not want to sell Halilovic. He's 17-years-old. Imagine if he stayed another four years with us.

Zdravko Mamic

Mamic believes that Halilovic will prove to be Croatia's most important player over the next 15 years, and thinks that age should not be a barrier to his selection.

After all, Mamic argues, Cesar Luis Menotti selected Diego Maradona in his 1978 World Cup squad when he was just 17 and still playing for Argentinos Juniors in his homeland, although the player was later omitted when the squad was trimmed just before the tournament.

And with respect to Halilovic's future and development, Mamic insists that the player would be best served by staying at Dinamo.

He said: "We do not want to sell Halilovic.

"He's 17-years-old. Imagine if he stayed another four years with us."

Indeed, Kovacic and Jedvaj offer cautionary tales.

Kovacic, now 19, has struggled at Inter this term after making a L12.5m move last January, while Jedvaj, 18, has only made two appearances for Roma since a move over the summer.

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