Wanderers miss out as Juric closes in on new European deal

Tomi Juric has declined an offer to return to Western Sydney Wanderers and will instead remain in Europe, with the announcement of his next career destination understood to be imminent.

Australia's Tomi Juric Source: AP

A free agent after departing Swiss Super League side FC Luzern at the end of last season, the Socceroos striker is close to finalising a deal elsewhere on the Continent as he seeks to put a disappointing last 12 months behind him.

Injuries and inconsistency saw Juric - who turned 28 last month - manage just seven league appearances for Luzern last season and miss out on 2019 Asian Cup selection.

Wanderers coach Markus Babbel worked alongside Juric for two seasons at Luzern, with the Sydney-born forward notching 15 goals in 57 appearances and emerging as a Socceroos regular during that spell.

But Babbel’s hopes of a reunion with the former Wanderland favourite have been dashed, as Juric looks for a fresh challenge in Europe to push himself back in the coach Graham Arnold’s Socceroos FIFA World Cup qualification calculations.

The anticipated move will mark the beginning Juric’s fifth straight season in Europe, after he joined Luzern from Dutch outfit Roda JC in 2016.

Juric, who has eight goals in 41 Socceroos appearances, was Australia’s second choice striker at last year’s World Cup in Russia but was held back by a niggling knee injury at the tournament.

With the likes of Adam Taggart emerging as a proven goal threat during his breakout debut K League season, Juric will need to shine in 2019-2020 to reclaim his Socceroos lustre.