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Everton's Nikica Jelavic a target for Hamburg
HAMBURG have confirmed they are interested in taking Everton's Nikica Jelavic to Germany if they can lighten their current wage bill.
Hamburg's sporting director Oliver Kreuzer has confirmed that the Toffees are willing to negotiate a move for the Croatian striker.
Speaking to Hamburger Morgenpost Kreuzer said: "He is a great player. I know him very well. I wanted to get him out of Rapid Vienna and to Graz in 2010 before he went to Rangers. That transfer only just failed.
"We have been offered an opportunity. We will deal with it."
Kreuzer also confirmed that Hamburg are not currently in a position to afford a deal for Jelavic.
He added: "Day in, day out, I talk to all the agents, but nothing has come up yet. If we manage that [to sell two or three players] we could work out if a loan or a payment in instalments would be possible."
Jelavic proved a revelation in his first six months at Everton, scoring 11 time in 16 appearances, after making a £5m January move from Rangers in 2012.
But Jelavic struggled mightily last term, scoring just eight goals, and eventually fell behind Victor Anichebe in the Everton pecking order.
Now Roberto Martinez appears willing to sanction the 27-year-old's departure from Goodison Park following the acquisitions of Arouna Kone from Wigan and Gerard Deulofeu from Barcelona.