Foreign paper suggests Man Utd ‘presumably’ negotiated deal for €120m striker in January
Spanish newspaper AS have suggested that Man Utd made an attempt to sign Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the winter transfer window.
Vlahovic is facing a summer of uncertainty as Juventus look set to miss out on Champions League football next season.
Handed a 15-point deduction in January for mishandling transfer finances, the Old Lady are facing an uphill battle to finish inside the Serie A top four.
Max Allegri’s side are currently seventh in the table, 12 points behind fourth-placed AC Milan and 30 off league leaders Napoli.
Vlahovic moved from Fiorentina to Juventus in order to play in the Champions League and with the Italian giants looking to raise funds, he has been named as the player who will be cashed in on at the end of 2022-23.
The Serbian international was strongly linked with a move to Arsenal before he left Fiorentina, and some outlets continue to claim the Gunners are interested.
After signing Gabriel Jesus, this seems unlikely, especially after the player so publicly turned down the chance to play for Mikel Arteta.
Man Utd and Chelsea are both in the market for a new No. 9 and the signing of Vlahovic could be a very good one for either Premier League side.
The Red Devils released Cristiano Ronaldo last November and brought in Wout Weghorst on loan until the end of the season.
Weghorst is definitely just a stop-gap before they sign a striker in the summer transfer window, however.
As well as Vlahovic, Man Utd have been linked with RB Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko and Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen.
Vlahovic and Osimhen are both likely to cost around €100million, if not more, while Sesko is reportedly set to join RB Leipzig, so Man Utd’s search for a new striker will definitely not be straightforward.
However, they have apparently laid some of the groundwork to sign the Juventus man.
This is according to Spanish outlet AS, who say Man Utd are the most likely Premier League side to have been in negotiations with Juve last month.
‘Sources directly involved in the negotiations’ claim Juve discussed a deal with ‘a top team in the Premier League, presumably Man Utd’.
The reason ‘everything points towards’ the Old Trafford club is the exit of Ronaldo, their desire to sign a striker, and no current striker being at the club.
The report does focus on Real Madrid’s interest in the player – who will cost between €100m-€120m.
Los Blancos believe Vlahovic is ‘one of the most promising strikers is on the market’ and could be the ideal player to come in as Karim Benzema approaches the end of his career.
The European champions are keeping ‘all options open until the summer’ and Vlahovic is definitely an option.
However, the signing of Borussia Dortmund midfielder Jude Bellingham is Madrid’s ‘number one’ priority.
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