Transfer Centre

Eintracht Frankfurt sign Real Madrid target Luka Jovic

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 17 April 2019

Eintracht Frankfurt exercise their option to sign Luka Jovic on a permanent deal from Benfica but are now expected to sell the striker on.

Eintracht Frankfurt have exercised their option to sign Luka Jovic on a permanent deal from Benfica.

Jovic has spent the last two seasons on loan with Frankfurt, scoring 34 times in 66 appearances for the German club in all competitions.

The 21-year-old has now signed a four-year contract with the Bundesliga side, but he is unlikely to represent them next season with a host of clubs battling to sign the centre-forward.

Barcelona had been strongly linked with a move, but it is thought that Real Madrid have won the race for the four-time Serbia international, who could fetch £60m this summer.

"The development of Luka with us is very pleasing," Frankfurt sporting director Fredi Bobic told the club's official website. "For us there was no question that we wanted to tie him firmly to the club. He is a player with extraordinary skills. It is important to us that we have bound him to us."

This season, Jovic has found the back of the net on 25 occasions in 39 appearances for Die Adler.