The six-time HNL champions initially approached Popovic after his Premiers Plate winning romp with Perth Glory, but he’d already made a commitment to Victory, who crowned him the A-League’s top earning coach on a $900,000-a-season package.
 
After parting company with coach Mislav Karoglan in April following the implosion of their HNL title challenge, assistant Jure Ivanković was placed in temporary charge.
 
However, newly appointed sporting director Nikola Kalinić is looking to make a full time appointment, with Croatian sources suggesting Popovic, 50, is among those being considered for the position.
 
The Victory coach, still licking his wounds from last weekend’s dramatic A-League grand final loss to Central Coast, has the option to remain in situ - so long as he agrees to a drastic cut in wages to around $350,000 per season.
 
Any offer from Hajduk, home to Aussie midfielders Anthony Kalik and Noa Skoko, would also be nowhere Popovic’s current remuneration package.
 
But the prestige of being at the helm of a club boasting such a distinguished history would be temping for a coach born and raised in Sydney of Croatian heritage.
 
Popovic's two previous overseas coaching adventures quickly turned sour, with Turkish outfit Karabukspor and Greek side Xanthi both dismissing him after only a handful of matches amid internal ructions beyond his control.
 
The Victory boss said after the grand final he expected to resolve his future within two weeks, and it’s anticipated that Kalinic will make a call imminently on who to unveil as the man to restore Hajduk - who finished second in two of the past three seasons - as a title winning force.
 
Should Popovic either turn down the role, or not make the final shortlist, it’s anticipated he’ll agree to remain with Victory on reduced terms.