Orlando City SC‘s winter transfer business shows no signs of slowing down as they actively hunt a replacement for Antônio Carlos. Today, Norwegian football journalist Stian André de Wahl tweeted that Orlando City SC have submitted a bid of around $2 million to Viking Stavanger for centre back David Brekalo.
In a follow-up tweet by @NorwayFooty, they claim that Viking Stavanger “does not seem interested in accepting the deal” although the 25-year-old Slovenian international centre back “seems to want to leave the club” this winter.
Viking er enig med Sparta Praha om en overgang for Markus Solbakken.
De har også mottatt et bud på David Brekalo fra MLS-klubben Orlando City på rundt 20 mill. kr. https://t.co/JrAdUawOhG
— Stian André de Wahl (@StianWahl) January 8, 2024
Who is David Brekalo?
David Brekalo is a 25-year-old Slovenian centre back.
Right footed, he hails from the nation’s capital Ljubljana and stands at 6 ft 1 in.
Starting his professional career with Ljubljana-based NK Bravo back in 2017, David Brekalo tallied 124 domestic league appearances and scored 12 goals for his hometown club.
A highly rated player in his homeland, Brekalo’s form saw him linked with Swedish giants Malmö FF in January 2021.
Nevertheless, it was Norwegian side Viking Stavanger that secured Brekalo’s signature in August 2021.
Joining the eight-time Eliteserien winners for €400,000, David Brekalo signed a three-and-a-half year contract at Viking Stadion.
Making his Viking Stavanger bow just four days after signing, Brekalo’s debut was a truly memorable one.
In a 3-2 victory over Molde, David Brekalo capped a dream debut in super dramatic fashion – scoring the winning goal in second-half stoppage time.
A goal that earned the Slovenian instant hero status in Stavanger, Brekalo has since made 59 more Eliteserien appearances for Viking Stavanger, tallying six more league goals after his debut strike.
Representing Slovenia from U-18 to U-21 level between 2016 and 2021, David Brekalo made his senior Slovenia debut in 2022.
Brekalo started in a March friendly draw (1-1) against Croatia at Education City Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Playing the full 90+ minutes for Matjaž Kek’s side, David Brekalo has since earned 10 more caps for Slovenia, scoring one goal in a 1-1 draw in Kazakhstan during UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying (Group H).
Elsewhere, Beşiktaş, Coventry City, Leeds United, and Luton Town have all been linked with David Brekalo in the past.
So pulling off his signature would be quite the coup for Orlando City SC.
Brekalo also has firsthand experience of facing Major League Soccer opposition too.
In February 2022, Brekalo was part of the Viking Stavanger side that defeated Portland Timbers 1-3 at Providence Park in a pre-season friendly.
According to Transfermarkt, David Brekalo has made 185 appearances across all competitions in his professional career so far, tallying 19 goals and two assists – highly impressive for a centre back!
Transfermarkt also notes that Brekalo is currently sidelined with a long-term groin injury that has kept him out of action since October 2023.
If signed, Brekalo will become the first ever player from Slovenia to represent Orlando City SC.
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