All you need to know about Premier League target Dusan Vlahovic
It was July 2019 when American billionaire and Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso ruled upon arrival in Florence that La Viola “won’t make the same mistake as with Roberto Baggio. I won’t sell Federico Chiesa even for €100m.” Fifteen months later, the fleet-footed, highly-rated 22-year-old forward headed to Turin, signing on an initial two-year loan agreement that would later become permanent. Commisso had failed to stay true to his word and the unyielding promise he made just one month into his reign, shaking hands with Fiorentina’s arch-rivals. Yet it would not be the last time…
Under previous ownership, Federico Bernardeschi had also completed a controversial switch to the Bianconeri in July 2017, a move that once again left a bad taste in the mouths of the incandescent Fiorentina supporters.
The fiery animosity between the two Italian clubs began way back in 1982 when Juve snatched the Scudetto from the clutches of Fiorentina before signing their star player, Baggio, for a world-record £8m fee in 1990.
Yet this time around, a new generation of forbearing Viola fans are set to suffer in similarly excruciating pain to their fathers and grandfathers, in losing another club icon.
Dusan Vlahovic has been Fiorentina’s light in the dark, a genuine superstar who sharpened his craft and made his name in Florence; A boy from Belgrade who became a man under the club’s watchful eye.
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Inside Arsenal’s failed pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic – how his agent’s called the shots… (Image: GETTY)
Juve are now understood to be closing in on the signing of the prolific 21-year-old goal machine and make no mistake, there will be riots should he sign on the dotted line with the Old Lady.
“It’s over for you,” read one of the threatening banners positioned outside the walls of the Stadio Artemio Franchi on Monday night.
Fiorentina are already believed to be working on a deal for Vlahovic’s replacement in the form of Basel’s Arthur Cabral as they now prepare for his imminent departure, offering the Swiss club in the region of £11.7m for the Brazilian striker.
But things could have been so different. Arsenal were at the table and seemingly prepared to match Fiorentina’s £58m valuation of the player, who was their top January target.
Positive club-to-club discussions, including a face-to-face meeting in London, over a deal took place but there was a significant stumbling block, Vlahovic’s reps have not answered the phone – even once – to the Gunners.
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They were simply not even entertaining the idea of joining Arsenal, even though Mikel Arteta was prepared to build and shape his project around the Serbian international. Something they were prepared to make clear to Vlahovic.
Fiorentina were hellbent on shifting their talisman to north London or another Premier League side to avoid negotiating with Juventus but the player’s representatives have forced them to reconsider their position.
Last week, Fiorentina general director Joe Barone made a final rallying call to Vlahovic’s inner circle, ordering them to pick up the phone and talk with Arsenal.
He told Florence-based newspaper La Nazione: “Some English clubs have made contact with Fiorentina, but there’s no agreement and there can’t be if someone… [doesn’t talk].
“In any case, we’re open (to selling). The English clubs want Vlahovic, but evidently, he’s got other ideas. We’re ready to negotiate, but he and his agent won’t talk.
“There’s been no communication from the player and his agents, although I asked them to be clear about their wishes.”
Dusan Vlahovic looks set to join Juventus from Fiorentina (Image: GETTY)
Yet it appears Vlahovic wanted Juventus all along, something he has communicated to Fiorentina in the past few days.
He adores Serie A as he sets his sights on this season’s Capocannoniere and the idea of becoming a poster boy for the biggest club in Italy, despite their recent struggles, is proving to be an irresistible draw.
Fiorentina are also pushing for a sale while his stock remains sky-high, cautious of the fact Vlahovic is now within the final 18 months of his contract in Florence.
This will feel tough on Arsenal, who were prepared to pull out all the stops to make a deal happen this month.
Technical director Edu was even willing to shelve plans for other signings in order to blow significant money on a blockbuster transfer but now Arsenal have been forced back to the drawing board.
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Fiorentina’s president Rocco Commisso has previously ruled against doing business with Juventus (Image: GETTY)
They even felt they had a unique advantage on other suitors in the form of Lucas Torreira, who has impressed this season on loan at Fiorentina. There is also a very strong relationship between the two clubs.
The Uruguayan international was expected to be used as makeweight in any potential bid, bolstering the overall value of any offer way above Fiorentina’s asking price for their striker.
However, now attention appears to have turned to Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak while Jonathan David of Lille is also under consideration.
During a period when Arsenal’s fresh recruitment drive has rightly received strong plaudits and recognition, this feels like a soul-destroying defeat for the Gunners, who have now resigned themselves to losing the two-horse race. Despite all of their efforts, Vlahovic to Juventus now seems a matter of when, not if.
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