Frankfurt sign Barca target Jovic

BERLIN: Barcelona and Real Madrid target Luka Jovic has signed a permanent contract at Eintracht Frankfurt, ending his two-year loan from Benfica, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Wednesday.

Serbian talent Jovic, 21, who has fired his way onto the radar of Europe’s top clubs with 25 goals so far this season, had been on loan from the Portuguese club.

In March, Frankfurt revealed that the loan deal included the option to buy Jovic for around €7 million (RM33 million).

On Wednesday, they announced that they had done so, with Jovic signing a contract which would keep him at the club until 2023.

“Luka’s development has been very pleasing and for us there was no question that we wanted to bind him to the club long term,” said Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic in a statement.

“He is a player with extraordinary abilities.”

With several of Europe’s top clubs reportedly considering making a bid for Jovic, it is still unclear whether the Serbian will stay at Frankfurt beyond this season, or whether the club will decide to sell him on at a substantial profit.

Last week, Jovic’s father told German newspaper Bild that his son wanted to stay in Frankfurt.

Meanwhile, Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is hopeful he can play the final two league games of the Bundesliga season despite tearing calf muscle fibre in Sunday’s 4-1 win over Fortuna Duesseldorf.

“It’s tough to say when I’ll be back in net. I think Leipzig is a realistic goal,” he told reporters on Wednesday, referring to the game at home to RB Leipzig on May 11, their penultimate fixture of the season.

“Luckily it wasn’t my foot but the calf. I was out for over a year because of my metatarsal and I’d actually expected a muscle injury much earlier.”

The Bavarians, hunting a record-extending seventh consecutive league title, lead the Bundesliga with 67 points, one ahead of rivals Borussia Dortmund.

Sven Ulreich will deputise in Neuer’s absence. “He’s had great games and shown good performances. I think he’s ready, so I’m not at all worried,” said Neuer.