Liverpool have reportedly moved to sign Juventus striker Dušan Vlahović in the January transfer window following Alexander Isak’s serious leg injury, according to Spanish outlet Fichajes.
The Reds suffered a huge setback during their 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur when Isak fractured his lower leg while scoring the opening goal. The injury is expected to sideline him for most of the remainder of the season, forcing Arne Slot’s side to reassess their options.
Reports from Spain claim Liverpool have reacted swiftly by entering the market for a replacement and have already submitted an offer. Vlahović, who is in the final year of his Juventus contract, earns around £377,000 per week before bonuses and has long been linked with an exit as the Italian club look to reduce their wage bill.
Liverpool are said to have tabled a €20m (£17.4m) bid for the Serbian international, while also indicating a willingness to meet his salary demands of more than €12m net per year (around £400,000 per week). Juventus are reportedly open to a sale and have no plans to renew his deal, leaving them torn between accepting a reduced fee now or losing him for free in the summer.
The striker is understood to be keen on a Premier League move, viewing it as a fresh challenge and a change of environment. With Juventus facing a difficult decision, this could be the closest Vlahović has come to leaving Turin, and Liverpool appear ready to help fulfil his long-standing ambition to play in England.
However, with Isak expected to miss most of the league campaign, it remains doubtful that Liverpool truly need another expensive stop-gap striker. Hugo Ekitike has impressed as the focal point of the attack, while Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Federico Chiesa can all operate through the middle if required.
Rather than committing to another high-earning number nine who would demand regular minutes, Liverpool may be better served strengthening their wide options and continuing to trust Ekitike’s form. Given Vlahović’s underwhelming performances in recent seasons, the relatively low transfer fee may be overshadowed by massive wages, making the deal look like a risky and potentially costly mistake
