BERLIN — In a bid to bolster their struggling offense, Union Berlin has signed Croatian striker Marin Ljubi?i?, who previously played for Austrian club LASK. The announcement was made on Sunday, although details regarding the duration of his contract were not disclosed.

The 22-year-old Ljubi?i? made a significant impact in Austria’s Bundesliga, scoring 28 goals in 75 appearances after joining LASK from Croatian club Hajduk Split in 2022. Union Berlin’s sporting director, Horst Heldt, expressed confidence in Ljubi?i?’s potential, highlighting his goal-scoring abilities and stating that the forward’s speed and technical skills will be critical to enhancing the team’s attacking options.

Reports indicate that Union Berlin has agreed to pay 4.5 million euros to LASK, along with potential performance-related bonuses for Ljubi?i?’s transfer. The move comes as Union struggles offensively, having scored only 16 goals over 20 Bundesliga matches so far this season. This lack of scoring was illustrated in their most recent match against Leipzig, where despite having several chances, they were unable to find the back of the net, resulting in a goalless draw.

Under the new management of Steffen Baumgart, Union has found it difficult to convert scoring opportunities, having failed to score in four out of five games since he took over. This offensive dilemma was also evident during the tenure of Baumgart’s predecessor, Bo Svensson. Furthermore, Union Berlin is reportedly exploring another option to strengthen their front line, as they were said to be close to securing a deal for forward Maximilian Philipp from Freiburg. The 30-year-old has seen limited action this season at Freiburg, which could pave the way for a move to Union.

As the season progresses, Union Berlin aims to turn their fortunes around with these strategic signings, hoping to improve their goal tally and overall performance in the Bundesliga.