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“On 7th July…”: €60million forward discloses his plans after advanced talks with Liverpool

FLORENCE, ITALY - MAY 08: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Dusan Vlahovic of ACF Fiorentina celebrates after winning during the Serie A match between ACF Fiorentina and SS Lazio at Stadio Artemio Franchi on May 8, 2021 in Florence, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

Dusan Vlahovic has revealed that he will be at Fiorentina’s training ground for pre-season after Liverpool held ‘advanced talks’ with the Serie A club in April.

On April 27th, Inside Futbol reported that Liverpool and AC Milan held advanced talks with the player’s agent as well as Fiorentina as the Reds look to bolster their attacking ranks after a disappointing domestic campaign.

In 37 Serie A games this season, Vlahovic scored 21 goals and also got 2 assists for a side that finished on 40 points – just 7 points above the relegation zone which highlights how special the 21-year-old is.

In fact, the Serbian striker’s goals in the league accounted for 44% of Fiorentina’s goals in the league.

Vlahovic

VERONA, ITALY – APRIL 20: Dusan Vlahovic of ACF Fiorentina scores their team’s first goal from the penalty spot during the Serie A match between Hellas Verona FC and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi on April 20, 2021 in Verona, Italy. (Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images)

Without him, they would surely have dropped into Serie B and so are naturally desperate to hold onto him this summer and, according to Niccolò Ceccarini, they are ready to demand €60million to retain his services.

Not selling him this season could be a risky approach given that he has just two years left on his contract and heading into next summer with a year on his terms could see them lose out on a big payday.

That said, two more seasons with a player like Vlahovic practically guarantees they will stay in Serie A for another two years which might be more valuable to them than the funds they could secure for his departure.

If you ask the striker as, Serbian magazine MozzartSport has, he’ll tell you: “I try not to read the rumours.

BENEVENTO, ITALY – MARCH 13: Dusan Vlahovic of AFC Fiorentina poses with the match ball after scoring a hat-trick during the Serie A match between Benevento Calcio and ACF Fiorentina at Stadio Ciro Vigorito on March 13, 2021 in Benevento, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

“Of course, I open websites to see the main news. But I don’t read the news about me and I skip it right away. I am just concentrating on football. I learned that it is important to rest as much as train.

“Alright, you also have to go out and give yourself a break. We are all humans but now I am interested in resting as best as I can for the coming season.

“I see myself at Fiorentina, I have two more years of contract and on 7th July, I will be there for the [pre-season] roll-call.”

Liverpool are in need of a player like Vlahovic, with clinical finishing something that Klopp’s side battled with this season – but €60million is simply too much even for the Serbian.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUB2PdiuzCs

While Vlahovic is undoubtedly one of the most exciting players in Europe at the moment, if Liverpool have €60m to spend on a forward, they should really be looking to scrounge for more cash to push to sign someone like Jadon Sancho.

The Englishman is an entirely different kind of forward but one that’s better suited to Klopp and his style of play.

Liverpool actually need a forward that can help play sleek moves through a low block’s defence and aside from Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota, the Reds don’t have any gifted dribblers.

Sancho is possibly the best dribbler in his age category but interestingly, Mane has more completed take-ons as well as a higher take on success rate despite his poor form this season.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Sadio Mane of Liverpool and Joel Ward and Jeffrey Schlupp of Crystal Palace in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on May 23, 2021 in Liverpool, United Kingdom.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – MAY 23: Sadio Mane of Liverpool and Joel Ward and Jeffrey Schlupp of Crystal Palace in action during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Crystal Palace at Anfield on May 23, 2021 in Liverpool, United Kingdom. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images)

This summer is crucial to how Liverpool bounce back from a disappointing 2020/21 season and with Ibrahima Konate already confirmed as a Red, Jurgen Klopp has his summer off to the perfect start.

Fortunately, there aren’t too many incomings required with but a new midfielder and striker are top of the list.