Danish and Swedish media reports say New Zealand international forward Elijah Just has been the target of a failed transfer bid that would reunite him with a former coach.
Just (23) is under contract till the summer of 2026 to Danish second-tier club AC Horsens.
But reports say top-tier Swedish club IFK Göteborg made a bid of 3,000,000 krona (about NZ$500,000) to lure the 20-cap All White to their club ahead of the new season.
AC Horsens reportedly rejected the offer as the Danish transfer window has now closed, and they would not be able to replace Just before the Danish summer.
In Sweden, the transfer window remains open.
Main photo: Elijah Just … speculation continues as to where he’ll be playing next.
Football writers are speculating whether IFK Göteborg will return with a better offer to entice the Danes to bank the money and risk continuing their season with an under-strength squad.
Just has been missing from the AC Horsens line-up since the February resumption of the first division but came off the bench for a 20-minute cameo in their 1-1 draw with Næstved on March 4.
Former AC Horsens coach Jens Berthel Askou is now at IFK Göteborg but clearly had a high opinion of the Palmerston North-born Just when he signed him in 2022.
At the time, he said: “He can hurt the opponent in both small and large spaces, he finishes well with both legs and he can attack his opponent in several ways.”
READ MORE: All Whites winger Elijah Just signs long-term contract with ‘The Yellow Danger’ >>>>
Just has scored three goals and been credited with five assists in his 50 appearances for AC Horsens who he joined from Danish first division club FC Helsingør for whom he scored 13 goals in 71 appearances in three seasons.
The former Eastern Suburbs and Western Suburbs player played for New Zealand’s U-17 and U-19 teams before making his All Whites debut in 2019.
Next All Whites fixtures
New Zealand will play Egypt at the four-nation W Cup tournament in Abu Dhabi on Friday March 22, 2024.
READ MORE: Liverpool’s Salah comes off bench to increase his chances of playing All Whites >>>>
The winner will meet either Croatia or Tunisia in the tournament final on March 26, while a play-off for third place will be staged on March 25 (local time).
The New Zealand squad has not yet been announced.
New Zealand’s games will be streamed live and free on FIFA+.
READ MORE: All Whites to play two games at UAE tournament in March international window >>>>
More football stories
