Srđan Lakić commented on the summer transfer window and the reinforcements of GNK Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk in a gol.hr podcast. The former manager, who now oversees the careers of several players, provided his insight into the transfer activities of Croatia's two biggest clubs.

The "Off the record" podcast on the gol.hr portal was published this week, featuring Lakić in conversation with Ivica Medo. The topic was a comparison of the summer transfers of the Blues and the Whites. Dinamo brought in Kirill Kravtsov from Sochi, Dani Rodríguez from Barcelona, Iker Almene, Dominik Kotarski, Stjepan Radeljić, and welcomed back Luka Ivanušec and Mislav Oršić. Hajduk, on the other hand, signed Albanian midfielder Etika Brrutija from Malisheva, former Dinamo youth player Andrija Šutal, Khalil Fayad from Montpellier, Leander Dendoncker, Carlos Martín from Atlético Madrid, Marin Šotiček from Basel, Dennis Hadžikadunić from Rostov, Albert del Moral from Real Oviedo, Dalisson de Almeida from Córdoba, Alec Van Hoorenbeeck from Twente, and Mathieu Acapandié from Nantes.

Srđan Lakić specifically praised Hajduk's deal to bring in Marin Šotiček. He assessed it as a top-quality transfer and a player with great potential who will be a major reinforcement for the Split club. Lakić, who himself spent two years in Hajduk's youth academy, expressed pleasure at the success of the Whites. "I am happy for Hajduk, all of Dalmatia deserves it," Lakić said.

The manager also highlighted the importance of Hajduk's qualification for the Conference League. "I am primarily very glad that Hajduk managed to make that step forward in Europe and qualified for the Conference League," he stated. He hopes this will help the club grow, become more competitive against Dinamo, and make the HNL more interesting.

Regarding Dinamo, Lakić was more cautious in making a final assessment. He emphasized that it is difficult to judge whether Hajduk or Dinamo bought better because the season is still young and it's hard to predict how new players will integrate. Dinamo had a solid transfer window, bringing back key players and adding several new names to strengthen the squad.

Dinamo currently leads the HNL table with 13 points from five matches, with four wins and one draw. Their goal difference is an impressive +9, with 12 scored and only three conceded. In their last five league matches, they have remained unbeaten, with two victories and three draws. The last result was a 2-2 draw against Istra 1961 on August 29, 2026.

GNK Dinamo Zagreb enters the next match as the league's leading team. Their next task will be an away game against NK Osijek, who sits in third place in the table. That match will be played on September 12, 2026. Dinamo will aim to maintain their unbeaten run and extend their lead at the top. An overview of all upcoming fixtures can be found on our fixtures page.

The club's current form provides grounds for optimism, but Lakić reminds us that it is premature to make final judgments about the summer reinforcements. Both Hajduk and Dinamo have quality squads that will need to prove themselves in practice over the entire season. The league standings can be followed in real time on the standings page.

Both clubs have ambitious plans for this season. Dinamo wants to defend the championship title, while Hajduk aims to challenge them and achieve a better European placement. Lakić's comment about the difficulty of assessing transfers refers precisely to the unpredictability of sport. Players like Marin Šotiček for Hajduk or Dani Rodríguez for Dinamo will only show their true value in the coming months.

Dinamo's defense, which has conceded only three goals so far, will be key in the away game against Osijek. The club has a solid foundation with returnees and new reinforcements that should ensure stability. Detailed player statistics are available on the stats page. Dinamo Zagreb continues preparations for an important match against the third-placed opponent, which will be a good test of their ambitions for this season.