Manchester United to rival Chelsea for Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic
Reports suggest that Manchester United have identified Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic as a primary target for the upcoming summer transfer window.
Following their recent 1-0 victory over Bournemouth and Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Aston Villa, Manchester United is on the verge of securing Champions League qualification. Despite meeting their preseason objectives, manager Erik ten Hag aims to strengthen several areas for the 2023-24 season.
One area of focus is the center of the attack, as United has heavily relied on goals from Marcus Rashford, especially with Anthony Martial enduring a significant portion of the campaign sidelined due to injury. Additionally, Wout Weghorst, on loan from Burnley, has not consistently impressed, underscoring the need for a new striker if United intends to close the gap on Premier League champions Manchester City.
While players like Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur and Victor Osimhen from Napoli have been linked with moves to Old Trafford, Football Transfers reports that Manchester United is now preparing an offer for Dusan Vlahovic.
The Serbian international has had a mixed season in Turin, scoring 14 goals in 31 starts and 8 substitute appearances in Serie A and European competitions. Although these figures are respectable, Juventus is reportedly open to selling the 23-year-old, and Vlahovic himself is open to a new challenge.
Earlier reports suggested that Chelsea had offered €80m (£69.5m) to secure Vlahovic’s services, as they seek to address their own attacking issues. However, Vlahovic is expected to reject Chelsea’s offer, prioritizing the opportunity to play in the Champions League.
Considering Manchester United’s reported desire to spend less than the £100m+ valuations of Kane and Osimhen, a potential move for Vlahovic appears to be a more realistic option. The former Fiorentina player still has over three years remaining on his contract with Juventus, who are also likely to qualify for next season’s Champions League.
