Hajduk has made three new signings ahead of its most crucial match of the season, according to reports from local media. The club is preparing to bring in a defender, a midfielder, and a winger, with the first arrival likely to be the defender. Sources indicate that Hajduk is in talks with Dennis Hadžikadunić, a Bosnia and Herzegovina international who is currently a free agent. Hadžikadunić, 28 years old and standing at 191 cm, has previously played for clubs such as Malmö, Mallorca, HSV, and Sampdoria, and was part of the Bosnia team at the World Cup. His contract with Rostov expired at the end of June, allowing Hajduk to potentially sign him without paying compensation. The club is also working on securing a midfielder and a winger, aiming to complete all three transfers quickly so that the new players can be available for coach Gonzalo Garcés during the Champions League playoff matches. If Hajduk wins its upcoming game against Žalgiris on Thursday, August 20, they will qualify for the group stage of the Conference League. The deadline for submitting new player registrations for the playoffs is Friday, August 14, at midnight. In addition to incoming transfers, Hajduk is also considering potential departures. One player under discussion is Niko Sigur, who has attracted interest from Celtic. The Scottish club is reportedly intensifying negotiations around his possible move, which could allow Hajduk to simultaneously handle both incoming and outgoing transfers close to the deadline. UEFA has announced the referees for Hajduk’s upcoming playoff matches against Polish side Raków. The match at Poljud will be overseen by 35-year-old Slovak referee Michal Očenaš, who has experience in European competitions. He will be assisted by two fellow Slovaks, Adam Jekkel and Tobiáš Pacák, while Portuguese Tiago Martins will serve as the VAR official. Očenaš, born in Žilina, has been officiating in the top tier of Slovak football since 2015 and was promoted to the first UEFA category last year. He has previously refereed matches involving Raków, including their 1–0 win over Arde in the previous season. Meanwhile, Rijeka's match against Danish side Midtjylland will be handled by Hungarian referee Balázs Berke, who is more experienced than Očenaš. Berke, 42 years old and based in Nagykanizsi, has been officiating in the top flight of Hungarian football since 2011 and has been in the first UEFA category since the 2023/24 season. He has officiated several international matches, including qualifiers for the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League, as well as national team games. He has not yet refereed matches involving Croatian or Danish clubs. Hajduk’s recent victory over Žalgiris secured them a spot in the Conference League playoffs, with a crowd of 20,229 attending the match at Poljud. This marked the second-highest attendance among qualifying matches this season, behind only the match between Qarabag and Dynamo Kyiv in Baku. Hajduk’s performance in the match, which ended 4–0 in favor of the hosts, further solidified their position in European competition. The club now faces Raków in the playoffs, with the first leg set for Thursday, August 20, at Poljud. UEFA has also imposed a heavy fine on Raków due to incidents during their match against Hammarby. The club was fined €68,000 for using pyrotechnics and blocking access to stands, leading to partial closure of certain sections of the stadium for their next European match against Hajduk. This decision means that Raków will lack support from some of its most passionate fans, particularly those in the stands closest to the pitch. With a capacity of just over 5,500 spectators, the stadium in Częstochowa will have a significantly different atmosphere compared to usual, which could benefit Hajduk in the upcoming encounter.
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