Sunderland must quell threat of 17-goal striker with Newcastle United admiration in Dinamo Zagreb test
A Dinamo Zagreb striker is looking to continue a stunning run of form when his side face Sunderland in the Europa League.
Sunderland will come face-to-face with one of European football’s most in-form strikers when they take on Dinamo Zagreb on matchday four of the Europa League.
The Blacks Cats have already claimed seven points from their first three games of the league phase of this season’s competition - and they will have to stifle a frontman that is averaging a goal-a-game in all competitions during the first two months of the season.
After joining Dinamo from German club Augsberg during the summer of 2025, Dion Beljo plundered his way to 38 goals in 48 games during his first season with Mario Kovačević’s side. That tally included five goals in eight games in last season’s Europa League as Dinamo earned a place in the play-off round of the competition before their run was ended by a 6-4 aggregate defeat against Belgian side Genk.
Beljo has continued his fine form into the current season and Beljo will head to Wearside looking to extend a blistering spell in front of goal after he scored 17 goals in his last 17 games. That tally includes 12 goals in just nine league games and three goals in his first two appearances of this season’s Europa League.
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Beljo has also shown he can link up with his team-mates after eight assists took his tally of goal contributions to 25 in 17 appearances across the league, Champions League qualifiers and Europa League. Given his prowess in front of goal, there is no surprise to discover the 24-year-old frontman has been linked with a number of big name clubs with TeamTalk suggesting Manchester United, Chelsea, Everton and Spurs are all showing an interest in securing his services during the January transfer window.
Intriguingly, Beljo has revealed his admiration for Newcastle United during an interview given during his time with Augsberg, telling Sky Germany: “Most recently Manchester United [are his favourite team] because of Cristiano Ronaldo, but there is another team that will surely surprise you: Newcastle United! Because when I was a kid, I watched the film ‘Goal’ and the player in that film fulfilled his dream of a professional career at Newcastle. I think Newcastle will be even better in real life. Because of their financial power and the incredible fans.”
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