The brilliant Asian Champions League campaign of the Western Sydney Wanderers has sparked widespread interest from clubs across the confederation eager to prise away some of the squad's best players.
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On Thursday, Fairfax Media reported that back-to-back Japanese champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima were ready to launch a bid to bring striker Tomi Juric to the Hiroshima Big Arch in January, six months before his contract expires.
Hiroshima are also keen to examine the possibility of bringing Matthew Spiranovic and Labinot Haliti to the J-League.
Spiranovic has already had one spell in Japan, on loan with Urawa Red Diamonds in 2010 from his then parent club, German side FC Nurnberg, and is widely regarded as one of the region's best defenders.
Haliti is a more surprising figure of interest, given he has largely been confined to a bench role for the Wanderers over the past two seasons. However, it's his fine form in the Champions League that has alerted the region's scouts to his potential.
The Kosovo-born forward scored three times during the group stages of the tournament - including one goal on Japanese soil, against Kawasaki Frontale - and started in the Wanderers' most recent match, the 0-0 semi-final draw away to FC Seoul, enduring a thankless shift as lone striker as the visitors defended for their lives. The Wanderers arrived back from Korea on Friday morning and will start putting their efforts into preparing for the home leg on October 1.
Another, unspecified club is also keeping a close watch on the skilled striker, who has occasionally played as a winger when needed.
While Hiroshima's preference is for Juric, if they cannot meet the Wanderers' asking price - Russian club Torpedo Moscow's $700,000 offer was recently knocked back - then Haliti, who would be available for much less, presents a cheaper alternative.
The figures for Spiranovic would need to be much higher again given his reputation and form at the recent World Cup. He is also contracted until 2016, indicating his preference to cement his place with the Wanderers and as Australia's number one defender.
It was reported last month the Wanderers turned down an eye-popping $2.5 million offer for Spiranovic from another Asian club - which, if true, would make it by far the biggest transfer offer ever made for an Australian-based player. Spiranovic is known to have a close relationship with coach Tony Popovic, leading him to re-sign in May.
"I had other options overseas and in Australia but what swayed me was the culture that Popa has installed at the club," he said at the time. "Not even a year has passed and Popa and his staff have me back to full fitness for the first time in a couple of years. While Europe and Asia clubs were calling, you always want to be playing in the big games against the best teams. Signing with the Wanderers I know I will get the opportunity to do that and continue to improve."
