According to Japanese media reports, Sakura Osaka intends to sign Croatian centre-back Jonik from Shanghai Shenhua to fill the vacancy after Sekobu Yume stayed in the ocean. Shenhua's contract with Jonić will not end in 2022, so Sakura Osaka will involve a transfer fee if she wants to sign Yoneć back.
Earlier last year, on the recommendation of former head coach Choi Kang-hee, Shenhua signed Jonik from Sakura Osaka, Japan, to replace Mbia. In one season with Shenhua, Jonić played steadily, averaging 1.1 steals, 1.2 interceptions, 3.9 clearances and 0.6 blocking shots per game, with outstanding frontal defensive ability. When he first joined Shenhua, Jonik signed a two-year contract with Shenhua until the end of 2022.
Yesterday, Beijing time, the Grasshoppers officially announced that Sakura Osaka's 21-year-old young center-back Kobuyuki Se has joined, and the Grasshoppers are the team played by international Li Lei. With Sekobuyuki staying in the ocean, Sakura Osaka hoped to reinforce the back line, and the old shogun Jonić entered Sakura Osaka's sight.
Sakura Osaka had a very good collaboration with Jonić. After moving from Incheon United to Sakura Osaka in the winter transfer window of 2017, Jonić helped the team win the Japan League Cup, the Emperor's Cup and the Japan Super Cup. As the leader of the team's backline, Jonić's attendance is very high, missing only one league game and winning the J-League Outstanding Player Award. In the 2020 season, Osaka conceded 37 goals in 34 games, the third-fewest team in the J-League. In addition, in the J-League Best Centre-Back Selection, Jonić has been ranked 1st twice and has been in the top 3 on 3 occasions.
A few days ago, Shenhua captain Moreno joined the Colombian National Athletic, where he once played, will Jonić follow in the footsteps and return to his old club? Jonić's situation is completely different from Moreno's. Moreno's contract with Shenhua ended at the end of last year and he was a free agent. Jonić and Shenhua have a contract, if he wants to leave, he needs to obtain Shenhua's consent, and it involves transfer fees, so there is a certain degree of difficulty.