Source: RBNY not after Sead Hakšabanović

Nov 8, 2020; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; New York Red Bulls forward Tom Barlow (74) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first half against the Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 8, 2020; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; New York Red Bulls forward Tom Barlow (74) celebrates his goal with teammates during the first half against the Toronto FC at Red Bull Arena. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Despite rumors to the contrary, a possible link between Sead Hakšabanović and the New York Red Bulls appears dead.

Last week, reports out of Sweden had linked the MLS club to the Montenegrin attacker, who is currently on the books of Swedish side IFK Norrköping. Several weeks ago, a flurry of reports on both sides of the Atlantic had reported that Hakšabanović was closing in on a deal with the Red Bulls. And then, the deal fell apart when his current club deemed the offer from the Red Bulls to be too low.

Now, a source tells FanSided’s MLS Multiplex that the Red Bulls and Hakšabanović are not currently engaged in any transfer talk. In fact, one source close to the situation said that any rumors of a possible re-igniting of talks is bogus and simply not true.

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Hakšabanović’s current club, Norrköping, was seeking a transfer of between five to six million Euros. The source said that the Red Bulls last offer several weeks ago tipped the scale at around 3.5 million Euros.

The 21-year old Hakšabanović has been capped 10 times by Montenegro, having come up through his country’s youth national team set-up.

In 2017, Hakšabanović signed a deal with English Premier League club West Ham after transferring for over $3 million from Halmstad in Sweden. He failed to make an appearance with the English side’s first team and was put on loan.

The Red Bulls, who have made the MLS playoffs ever season since 2010, are in desperate need of reinforcements in their attack. Hakšabanović, who possesses a high work rate, was seen as an ideal addition to the attack.

The attacker moves well in space, can play quick, one-touch combinations and has some flair as he moves towards goal.

Last week, the Red Bulls signed United States youth international Cameron Harper, who most recently was at Celtic. Harper posses similar characteristics to Hakšabanović in the final-third although he is not nearly as polished.