Manchester City tried their level best to bring in a replacement for the departed Sergio Aguero in the summer, but to no avail. This resulted in Jack Grealish being the only summer signing for the Sky Blues.
Because of no recognised striker in the first-team squad, Manchester City have subsequently been linked to a plethora of strikers ahead of the January transfer window. One of those is Fiorentina hotshot Dusan Vlahovic.
Dusan Vlahovic, 21, enjoyed his breakthrough last season when he bagged 21 goals in 37 appearances for an average Fiorentina side. The big Serb has managed to replicate his performances this term, already netting 10 goals in 12 games across all competitions, inevitably attracting interest from a slew of top European clubs.
Manchester City are understood to want to bring the 21-year-old in as early as January, with Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso announcing in October that contract negotiations between the player and the club had broken down. This has forced the Serie A club to sell Dusan Vlahovic, whose contract at La Viola expires in June 2023.
According to a report from Goal, Fiorentina want around €80m for Vlahovic as they look to sell him as early as January. They are hoping a bidding war erupts for their starlet, who is coveted by a number of clubs across the continent, including Juventus.
Goal claims Juventus are keenly following the Serbian international but they will not be able to fork out €80m demanded by Fiorentina. This certainly opens the door for Manchester City, who despite finding goals easy to come by without a natural number 9 this season, remain keen to replace Aguero.
As Vlahovic’s contract ends in 2023, the Florence-based outfit are keen to find a solution as soon as possible to maximise their profits and subsequently plan for the future. For a player of the Serb’s age, profile, recent track record and potential, a move for him would make complete sense for the English champions.
It now remains to be seen whether Pep Guardiola’s Man City meet Fiorentina’s demands to sign Vlahovic in the winter transfer window or decide to shift their attention elsewhere.