Dusan Vlahovic has been linked with a move to Newcastle United this month, and he is now reportedly in talks with a club that wears black and white.
Sadly, it’s Italian giants Juventus rather than the Magpies.
According to Sky in Italy, Fiorentina are in talks to sell their star striker to Juve before the transfer window closes. The report states that Fiorentina want to sell him this month to maximise their profit. He’d be worth less in the summer, with his contract set to expire in 2023.
Sky add that the asking price is £58.8million, a fee Juventus are looking to ‘satisfy’.
It’s another Newcastle United target who is possibly going elsewhere, but this deal never felt likely from the off.
Newcastle were willing to splash out for Dusan Vlahovic
The 21-year-old is one of the best young strikers in Europe today. If we’d signed him, it would have sent shockwaves around the world of football.
But instead, it looks like he is going to join a club that is already established as one of the best in Europe. And that’s the problem we have with some of our transfer targets this month.
We have been linked with some young players who are looking to climb the footballing ladder. One wrong move and it could set them back years. That’s why a lot of young players wouldn’t be interested in a move to relegation threatened Newcastle.
Instead, we’re having to bring in older players who can afford to take the risk of moving to St James’ Park.
Vlahovic could have arrived and been our main striker for the next 10 years. Or we could’ve been relegated and he’s suddenly the best young striker in Europe preparing for Luton away.
You can see why he reportedly wasn’t interested in a move to Newcastle. The Independent reported earlier in the month that PIF were willing to pay more than whatever Arsenal offered for Vlahovic.
In the end, it looks like we aren’t going to be able to land this target by simply throwing our financial weight around.
If the club want blockbuster signings like this, they first need to secure Premier League safety.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
