Arrival of Chris Smalling could open the door to Dominik Prpic's exit | OneFootball

Chris Smalling’s arrival at FC Porto increases competition in central defence and could lead to changes in the squad in the next transfer window. With several options available, the Dragons have only two spots in the starting eleven for centre-backs.

Jan Bednarek and Jakub Kiwior have been the first choices, while Nehuén Pérez, still recovering from injury, and Dominik Prpic appear as alternatives to the Polish duo. Smalling’s signing is expected to reduce the space for at least one of the players who have usually been on the bench. Pablo Rosario, who has established himself as a defensive midfielder, can also play in the heart of defence.

In this scenario, Dominik Prpic leaving to get more playing time is a possibility. The Croatian defender has not yet been used by Francesco Farioli this season and has only one appearance for the B team. The Dragons’ intention will be to see him compete at a more demanding level.

Prpic, 22, is under contract with FC Porto until 2030 and has a release clause set at €60 million. Signed from Hajduk Split in the summer of 2025, he represented an investment of €4.5 million. Developments regarding his future are expected in the coming weeks.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.