Fiorentina director Joe Barone confirms the Tuscans want to sell Dusan Vlahovic in January but denies they have reached an agreement with Arsenal.
The Gunners are pushing to sign the Serbian forward in the winter transfer window, but Vlahovic is unwilling to leave the Stadio Artemio Franchi before June.
He has also refused to sign a contract extension with Fiorentina, with his current deal expiring in 2023.
Fiorentina, Barone: "Vlahovic? Qualche club inglese si è fatto avanti…" https://t.co/JCpU1KOBhf #Fantacalcio #FantacalcioSerieATIM pic.twitter.com/14WtUHOwKY
— Fantacalcio (@Fantacalcio) January 21, 2022
There were reports that Arsenal and Fiorentina had reached an agreement over the striker’s sale, but Barone has denied it in his interview with La Nazione newspaper.
“Some English clubs have made contact, but there is no agreement yet. We are open [to selling].”
Barone had demanded clarity from Vlahovic’s entourage last week, asking to either sign a contract extension or leave.
“I haven’t heard anything from them, I had asked Vlahovic’s agent to be clear, but I haven’t heard anything, no contacts at all,” added Barone in his latest interview.
According to La Gazzetta dell Sport, Juventus have offered €35m plus Dejan Kulusevski to sign Vlahovic in January.
However, Fiorentina’s asking price for Vlahovic is €75-80m and the striker has requested an €8m-a-year salary.
Transfer fee, salary request, favourite destination and commissions: latest Vlahovic updates
If he goes to Arsenal, he effectively swapping one club with no lofty ambitions for another. Arsenal are nowhere near challenging for anything remotely relevant. But of course money talks.
There is also talk of him joining Juventus or Tottenham who both have managers who have won 11 Scudetto’s and an English Premier League championship between them from 2011 to 2021. Barone clearly wants Fiorentina to cash in on Vlahovic within the next 7 days from today as he does not want to sell him for free in 18 months time, The only clubs with the money to buy him right now are Newcastle United and Tottenham. The only club with a manager who wins league championships with the money at his disposal is Conte at Tottenham.