Serb hotshot could replace injured Wilson
NEWCASTLE have been linked with a shock move for Fiorentina wonderkid Dusan Vlahovic.
The 21-year-old striker has scored 18 goals in 22 games for the Florence club in Serie A this season and is being tipped for big things.
Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester United and Juventus have all been linked with moves for Vlahovic but reports now claim the cash-rich Magpies have entered the mix.
Earlier this week, it was claimed Mikel Arteta’s side had made a massive cash-plus-player offer for the Serbian.
However, the in-demand ace does not want to join the Gunners, who are reported to have offered £46million plus Lucas Torreira, who is currently on loan with Fiorentina.
Instead, Vlahovic is keen to join a “more ambitious project”, while the Magpies are in the market for a striker after Callum Wilson went off injured in their festive clash with Manchester United.
It is still unclear how long the £20million England star will be out for and he will see a specialist about his calf injury today.
Regardless, bringing in another forward is now a priority for the Magpies this month, with the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Divock Origi and Gabriel Barbosa all linked with St James’ Park in recent weeks.
Vlahovic, who is believed to have a EUR70million price tag, is the latest name to be connected with a move to Tyneside, but the striker has kept his cards close to his chest when asked about his future.
He added: “I’ve said it several times so far. There is a good football story being made here in Florence. We have a good team, great players, great support from the fans. Everything deserves respect.
“Only God knows what will happen in the next period. My desire is to take Fiorentina to Europe, because we haven’t been in Europe for a long time. We’ll see.”
The 6ft3 striker came through the youth ranks at FK Partizan before signing his first professional deeal with the club at the age of 15.
Vlahovic was handed the number nine shirt and made his debut in the Serbian SuperLiga in 2016, becoming the youngest ever debutant in Partizan history.
His performances attracted the attention of Fiorentina who signed him on a five-year deal, aged 18.
The Serbian has gone from strength to strength, scoring 43 goals in just short of 100 appearances, attracting plenty of attention along the way.
Manchester City are another club who have previously mulled a swoop for Vlahovic but have thus far not made a move for the forward.