Fiorentina star Dusan Vlahovic has rejected a record-breaking contract offer amidst huge interest from Manchester City, confirmed the club CEO, Joe Barone.
"“Dusan and his agent have turned down our new contract proposal. We offered the best salary in Fiorentina history”, Barone was quoted in a tweet by reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano."
Dusan Vlahovic, 21, has become one of the hottest properties in European football following a prolific 2021. The young centre-forward matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of most Serie A goals (33) in a calendar year since 1960 with a goal in Fiorentina’s 2-2 draw with Sassuolo on Sunday.
A series of clubs are interested in the Serbian hotshot’s signature, with the likes of Manchester City, Juventus, Arsenal and Tottenham among those monitoring his situation.
Having already rejected the most lucrative contract offer in Fiorentina’s history, Dusan Vlahovic has made his intentions clear of leaving La Viola. He will enter the final 12 months of his contract next summer, which is likely to force Fiorentina to consider cashing in on one of Europe’s most sought-after strikers.
According to La Repubblica (h/t Sport Witness), Manchester City are still leading the race for Dusan Vlahovic, with manager Pep Guardiola viewing the Fiorentina man as the perfect striker for both the present and the future of the club. In fact, the Sky Blues are pushing to make the deal materialise having been boosted by the Serbian’s decision to not pen fresh terms with the Serie A club.
The report (h/t Sport Witness) adds that the overall cost of signing Vlahovic is unlikely to drop down regardless of his current contractual situation, with the centre-forward’s continued purple patch warranting a pay-raise for the player.
16 goals in just 18 appearances this season is no mean feat for such a young striker and Guardiola is right to view Vlahovic as the perfect man to replace the recently retired Sergio Aguero at the Etihad Stadium.