Fiorentina insist Vlahovic is focused despite Arsenal and Tottenham talk
Martin Macdonald
- 5 Nov 2021 20:07 GMT
- 6 min read
Fiorentina head coach Vincenzo Italiano has labelled stories surrounding star striker Dusan Vlahovic as just rumours.
Over the past 12 months, Vlahovic has developed into a prolific Serie A striker, and last season scored 21 goals in 35 starts in the Italian top flight.
He has already started the new term among the goals, too, scoring 10 goals in 12 games in all competitions.
In the summer, he was the subject of much transfer speculation and the Italian media at the time reported that Fiorentina turned down a bid in excess of €50 million from Atletico Madrid for their star striker.
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Vlahovic would eventually stay, but the club are sweating over his future as his contract runs out in the summer of 2023, meaning he would be free to leave with no transfer fee exchanged.
According to Gianluca Di Marzio, Fiorentina would be willing to sell the Serbian if an offer of €80m came in.
Arsenal are reportedly leading the race for his signature, though Tottenham, Manchester City and Juventus are also interested.
Italiano remains unconcerned about the speculation for the moment, though.
“We are talking about a guy who has scored eight goals in 11 appearances even if, during some games, we were not able to provide service properly,” he told the media at a pre-match press conference.
“I don’t read papers, I’ve heard about Arsenal, Tottenham, City, Juventus and Milan. They are just rumours and not too credible for me, the guy is highly focused and he wants to do well.”
Vlahovic beginning to irritate Fiorentina
Fiorentina president Rocco Commisso has spoken of his frustration at striker Vlahovic for not accepting an offer to become the club's highest-paid player in history.
Commisso has revealed that Fiorentina have offered him a lucrative €40m contract to extend his stay which has not yet been accepted.
“I don’t know if he’ll sign, let’s all just stay calm,” the club’s billionaire owner told reporters in Florence.
“We’ve been working on it for months, some days are more positive than others. I speak to Dusan and he says he’s only focusing on the pitch and I should talk to his agents, then I talk to his agents and they say I have to speak to the player.
“His agent should come to Florence, he is the one doing the negotiations. What I will say is that this would be the highest salary ever given to a Fiorentina player, including Gabriel Batistuta and Manuel Rui Costa.
“I told Dusan that he is taking a huge risk not signing this deal. We are offering him a five-year contract worth €40m.
“I had to work a whole year to earn what he would in two or three days. I don’t know how football reached this stage.”
When asked if Vlahovic's behaviour was beginning to irritate him and the club, Commisso said:
“A bit, yes. Fiorentina are not just Vlahovic. This is a team and we want to keep concentrated. What else can I do? I would love to have resolved the issue already, but it’s not up to me.”
