Manchester United officials in contact over £77m move to sign left-footed “machine”
According to reports, discussions have taken place between Manchester United and the representative of Dusan Vlahovic, the forward from Juventus, regarding a possible move to the Premier League.
Is Juventus losing Dusan Vlahovic? Vlahovic joined Juventus from Fiorentina in January 2022 and has since become a regular member of the team. Despite missing ten games due to injury last season, he was given 22 starts in Serie A by coach Massimiliano Allegri.
Although he still has three years remaining on his contract, the 23-year-old striker has reportedly decided to leave the Italian club during this transfer window in order to seek a new challenge. As the standout offensive player for Juventus in the previous season, he has attracted the attention of Erik Ten Hag.
When the Serbian international left Fiorentina in March, Manchester Evening News reported that Manchester United would be at the front of the queue to sign him. It now seems that they have taken the first steps towards making a deal.
Do Manchester United intend to sign Vlahovic? According to Calciomercato (via TEAMtalk), Vlahovic’s agent has reportedly been in talks with Manchester United, Arsenal, and Chelsea, all of whom are keen to secure his signature before the 2023-24 season. The player’s representatives are currently trying to convince the three clubs that he is worth the €90 million (£77 million) asking price set by Juventus.
With Wout Weghorst returning to Burnley after an unsuccessful loan spell, Manchester United will need to sign a new center-forward this summer, and Vlahovic could be the ideal replacement, having been highly praised as a “goal machine” by talent scout Jacek Kulig. The left-footed World Cup participant made 27 appearances in Serie A last season, contributing 12 goals (ten goals and two assists), and earning three man-of-the-match awards. However, he also posed a threat to opponents even when he wasn’t scoring goals.
Vlahovic is constantly seeking to make an impact and would provide the goal-scoring prowess that Ten Hag has been lacking in the center recently, potentially making him the missing piece of the puzzle. It seems that a potential transfer is one to keep an eye on. According to FBRef, Vlahovic recorded a total of 65 shots throughout the season, more than any of his teammates.