Newcastle United have reportedly lodged an audacious €70 million transfer bid for Dusan Vlahovic, also a target for Manchester City and Tottenham.
According to Transfer Market Web, Newcastle United are eyeing up a January swoop for one of the continent’s in-demand strikers Dusan Vlahovic. The Magpies have been in talks with Fiorentina over a potential move for the Serbian striker this month and are working on a ground-breaking €70 million bid, matching Fiorentina’s hefty valuation in the process.
One of the most sought-after strikers in Europe, Vlahovic has been in red-hot form in Serie A since the turn of the year and recently matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 33 league goals in a calendar year. Vlahovic is currently leading the Serie A Golden Boot race, having hammered home 16 goals in 19 appearances for Fiorentina, helping La Viola’s unlikely push for European places.
The Fiorentina forward has emerged as one of the hottest properties in the transfer market, with multiple European heavyweights such as Juventus, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are monitoring his situation. However, a switch to the Premier League appears more likely, with Manchester City and Tottenham registering their interest. And it has now emerged that newly-rich Newcastle have also entered the race to sign the Serb.
With top-scorer Callum Wilson set to be out for a significant chunk of the season due to his latest long-term injury issue, Newcastle’s interest in Vlahovic comes as no surprise, with the Magpies missing that focal point in their attack in the absence of a recognised striker.
Vlahovic could be the perfect replacement for the 29-year-old. With his supreme aerial ability, he could really thrive alongside quality crossers such as Kieran Trippier, Ryan Fraser and Matt Ritchie around him. At the same time, the 21-year-old’s clinical finishing would provide Newcastle with much-needed goals as they look to stave off relegation in the second half of the campaign.
Tottenham, meanwhile, have reportedly made Vlahovic a priority target heading into the January transfer window, with manager Antonio Conte a big admirer of his talents from his time in Italy. Tottenham were heavily linked with Vlahovic last summer and seemingly remain keen on landing him.
Conte operated with the front-duo of Lautaro Martinez and Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan. And the Italian coach could look to repeat the same trick at Tottenham, pairing Vlahovic with Harry Kane. Kane often looks to drop deep and create plays with his exceptional passing, while the Serb is more of a poacher in the box with deadly movement.
As for Manchester City, the defending Premier League champions refused to pay over the odds for Tottenham striker Kane last summer, despite their need for a No. 9 following Sergio Aguero’s departure. They can do with a forward with Vlahovic’s attributes to add a different dynamism to their attack. And Pep Guardiola can still develop the 21-year-old into his ideal striker to spearhead Manchester City’s fluid frontline.
The report does not mention anything about Fiorentina’s stance, but it is believed that La Viola are willing to cash in on their talisman if the right price comes around, albeit in the summer transfer window. While there is no denying Newcastle have the financial might to outbid the competition, but convincing Vlahovic to move into a relegation battle will be quite a challenge.
