Liverpool have reportedly entered the race to sign Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic after the Serbian rejected contract renewal proposal at his current club.
According to TuttoSport, Liverpool are apparently the latest side to express their interest in signing the promising young Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic and can potentially make a move as early as next summer.
The Serb’s contract situation at the club has deteriorated from tricky to fractious. His current deal with the Serie A club expires in June 2023, and negotiations to extend have recently taken a hit, with Fiorentina’s president Rocco Commisso putting out an official public statement admitting that Vlahovic’s entourage has rejected several of the club’s lucrative contract offers and are hesitant about signing a new deal at Florence.
The report adds that La Viola are unwilling to risk their star man leaving on a free at the end of his contract. Hence, there’s a high possibility that the club can put the player up for sale in the upcoming transfer windows. Juventus, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan, and Liverpool are all weighing up transfer moves for the Fiorentina hitman.
Vlahovic had a very successful 2020/21 campaign as he netted career-high 21 goals from 37 Serie A appearances, making a name for himself as one of the most lethal young strikers in world football. He has had an equally spectacular start to the current campaign scoring six goals in only eight outings across all competitions and is well on course to put up an even better goal tally.
Vlahovic has been extensively linked with a move to the Premier League this summer, Manchester City appeared to be closing on for the Serie A forward, but nothing materialized. However, a host of English clubs are said to be still interested, namely Tottenham, Arsenal and Man City. And now it looks like Liverpool are all set to rival them for the player’s signature.
The pursuit for another forward makes a lot of sense for the Reds, with Mohamad Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino set to turn 30 by next year. Liverpool may want to bolster their frontline with some young blood, and although they signed Diogo Jota last summer, they still don’t have an out-and-out no.9 who can be a physical presence in the opponents’ box. Vlahovic certainly offers that slightly different dynamism.
The 21-year-old is the focal point of Fiorentina’s 4-3-3 system with Nicolas Gonzalez and Jose Callejon, the goal-scoring winger’s flanking him. While he would have an uphill task to emulate the all-round play and work rate of Roberto Firmino he’s still very young, and these qualities can be taught to his poaching skills in front of goal.
Signing Vlahovic would indicate a long-term shift in Jurgen Klopp’s strategy at Anfield. This transfer may herald the next stage in Klopp’s side’s growth, as the Reds will adapt to play with a recognized striker, and it may suit them with Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold providing quality service into the box from both flanks, they will then have an outlet to aim for. Only time will tell if the Reds can beat off the stiff competition to secure the signatures of the 21-year-old Serbian sensation.
