"Maybe I can be like Luka Jovic in the future" - Eintracht Frankfurt's Dejan Joveljic
New Eintracht Frankfurt striker Dejan Joveljic has shied away from comparisons with Luka Jovic, despite admitting he "can score goals from anywhere".
Jovic earned a summer move to Real Madrid off the back of a 27-goal season for Frankfurt, with fellow Serbia U21 international Joveljic coming in as his replacement soon after from Red Star Belgrade.
Comparisons between the two are inevitable, but Joveljic - who scored 17 goals in 32 appearances in 2018/19 and was named Red Star's Best Young Player of the Season - isn't giving them too much thought.
"Luka's a top guy and a fantastic striker, but you mustn't forget I'm two years younger," 19-year-old Joveljic said at his official unveiling as a Frankfurt player on 5 July. "Maybe I reach his level in the future, but fundamentally I don't want to be compared to anyone."
Watch: Luka Jovic set the bar high at Frankfurt last season
Joveljic, like Jovic, is a product of the Red Star youth academy. He enjoyed UEFA Champions League football with his boyhood club last season, but the Serbian says he did not hesitate when 2018/19 UEFA Europa League semi-finalists Frankfurt came calling for his services.
"As soon as I got the offer, I said I wanted to go there," recalled Joveljic.
"I spoke a lot about the club with Jovic and [Mijat] Gacinovic, too. Frankfurt are a big club, but they have a family feel at the same time.
"I know I will improve here because Frankfurt invest a lot in young players."
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Joveljic has been assigned the No.7 shirt at Frankfurt. Although a centre-forward by trade, he says he is capable of doing the business across the front line.
"I'm a central striker, who always works hard and knows where the goal is," Joveljic explained. "I can score from anywhere, but I'm in my element in the penalty box."
Joveljic could make his competitive debut for Frankfurt in the Europa League second qualifying round on 25 July.
The Eagles will face the winners of the first-round tie between Serbia's Radnicki Nis and Estonia's Flora Tallinn over two legs.
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