Reported West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur target Dusan Vlahovic is a ‘phenomenon’ with the talent to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona, former Italy international Antonio di Natale told RTV38.
While the Udinese legend aged like a vintage bottle of port, hitting goal after goal following his thirtieth birthday, Vlahovic is already a Serie A star at the age of just 21.
The silky Serbia international has found the net 12 times during a fine breakthrough campaign at a struggling Fiorentina side, his performances catching the eye of clubs such as West Ham and a Spurs side looking for a striker capable of replacing Benfica loanee Carlos Vinicius in Jose Mourinho’s frontline (Calciomercato and La Repubblica).
According to CM, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have now joined the race.
But while West Ham, Arsenal and Tottenham would undoubtedly represent a step up the ladder for Vlahovic, Di Natale believes a striker who once called himself ‘the new Ibrahimovic’ can aim a little higher.
“Vlahovic is a phenomenon,” Di Natale said, via Tuttomercatoweb.
“In a year, he will be able to play for Real Madrid or Barcelona. Fiorentina is an important club but I don’t know if theywill be able to keep him.
“If he doesn’t score, Fiorentina struggles.”
Clearly, Vlahovic doesn’t lack self-confidence or ability.
Zlatan himself would have been proud about the way the Fiorentina talisman took Benevento apart with a 34-minute hat-trick earlier this month. Not even La Viola legend Gabriel Batistuta managed to produce a first-half treble in that famous purple shirt.
Vlahovic’s future is already causing headaches at the Stadio Artemio Franchi, with the £35 million-rated striker reluctant to sign a new contract unless he is offered a sizeable pay rise.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
