Maccabi Tel Aviv captain and last season’s Israeli Premier League top scorer, Dor Peretz, has flown to Croatia to examine an offer from Dynamo Zagreb, the Croatian champions. The 31-year-old midfielder is weighing a possible move ahead of the new season, while his contract talks with Maccabi Tel Aviv remain unresolved.
Peretz finished his deal with Maccabi at the end of last season and has not yet agreed a renewal. The sides still have financial gaps, and Beitar Jerusalem has also shown interest and submitted an offer. According to reports, Dynamo Zagreb’s package is significantly better than Maccabi Tel Aviv’s latest proposal.
Maccabi Tel Aviv recently improved its offer to about $430,000 per season, up from its initial bid, but that is still well below Peretz’s current salary, which was about €600,000 including bonuses. People close to the player say that, beyond money, there has not yet been a formal meeting between the sides about his future, aside from an initial approach near the end of the season.
For Peretz, the European option is also attractive because Dynamo Zagreb regularly plays in continental competitions. This season the club will begin Champions League qualifying in the second round and face Swiss side Thun. For now, the future of one of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s most closely identified players remains open.