Halilovic undergoes medical ahead of Hamburg switch

Prodigious Croatian attacking midfielder Alen Halilovic is on the verge of a high-profile move in his tenderfoot career after completing his medical with midtable Bundesliga side Hamburg on Thursday.

The Barcelona stud, 20, spent last season on loan with Sporting Gijon. He's one of several young Blaugrana who have struggled to crack Luis Enrique's first team, prompting the temporary switch with the Rojiblancos.

While the move to Gijon was an interim one, reports suggest the transfer to Germany is permanent. It comes with a €5-million fee, The Mirror's Ed Malyon reports, with Barcelona inserting a buyback clause into the contract.

While at Gijon, Halilovic began to show the skill set that had him pegged as a future star. The eight-time capped Croatian international appeared in all but two of the club's La Liga fixtures, scoring three times to go with five assists for a side that barely staved off relegation.