Roar chasing top strikers
Adelaide United attacker Hiroshi Ibusuki and Wellington Phoenix marksman Oskar Zawada are targets for a Brisbane Roar side planning for the departure of teenage sensation Thomas Waddingham.
Waddingham’s encouraging A-League debut season has caught the attention of overseas clubs, with Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur reportedly interested in the 19-year-old forward’s services, as well as Italian top-flight outfit Udinese among others.
The Cairns product has two years remaining on his Brisbane contract but the Roar would be willing to sell him provided the offer was right for both the club and the player.
Even if Waddingham stays in Brisbane beyond this season, Roar coach Ruben Zadkovich still wants to bring an experienced striker to the club.
Roar head of football Zac Anderson has been in contact with the agents of Ibusuki and Zawada, who are both coming off contract.
Ibusuki, whose Adelaide side meets Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, has scored 13 goals in 24 A-League appearances this season, however the 33-year-old Japanese import is yet to be offered a new deal by the Reds.
Zawada, 28, has netted 20 goals across almost two A-League seasons, with five coming from just 11 appearances in a 2023-24 campaign that has been marred by a hamstring problem that has cost the Polish ace several weeks of action.
“Still everything is open – I’ve signed nowhere,” Zawada said.
“I’ll keep all possibilities open.”
The Roar could also be interested in bringing Adelaide winger Ben Halloran home to Queensland.
The 31-year-old former Socceroo, who spent 2012-13 season with Brisbane, seems to be out of selection favour at the Reds, with his contract expiring at the end of the campaign.
However, former Reds attacking weapon Nikola Mileusnic could be heading the other way by returning to Adelaide despite having been offered a new deal by Brisbane.
Another Adelaide product on Brisbane’s books, Carlo Armiento, is no longer in the plans of Zadkovich and is certain to leave the Roar at the end of the season.
The 24-year-old winger hasn’t played since a nine-minute spell off the bench in Brisbane’s 3-2 loss to one of his former clubs, Perth Glory, on February 17.
Armiento could be headed back to the Glory, and there is also a chance he will return to South Australia for a second spell with the Reds.
Meanwhile, the versatile Antonee Burke-Gilroy has signed a new one-year deal with the Roar.
As previously reported, Brisbane captain Tom Aldred and fellow central defender Kai Trewin are set to play their final matches for the Roar when the club completes its A-League season on Friday night.
Trewin is set to join Melbourne City, while Aldred – who has been linked with moves to Western Sydney Wanderers and Indian Super League outfit Kerala Blasters – has been unable to agree to terms for a new deal with the Roar.