Should Liverpool target Vlahovic in the January transfer window?

Stefan Bienkowski

• 8 Oct 2021 17:04 BST
• 8 min read

Unlike a number of their rivals in the Premier League, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side look in fantastic shape and ready to take on another title race.

The defensive line has recovered from disastrous injuries, the midfield is well stocked and up front the Anfield side have some of the best forwards in the world.

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However, like all clubs, Liverpool are always on the hunt for new players to upgrade or solidify certain parts of the team and this coming January transfer window will be an opportunity to build on their success rather than wait around and react to misfortune.

According to Corriere dello Sport, the club will look to do exactly that by taking a serious look at Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic in January.

So how good is the Serbia international and would he be a viable option for Klopp’s team in the next window?

Do Liverpool need Vlahovic?

What makes Vlahovic such an appealing transfer target for Liverpool is the fact that he can play a number of roles for his team. Last season the Serbian striker played as a poacher, a second striker and sometimes as a pressing forward for Fiorentina and still managed to bag 21 goals in all competitions.

This season has certainly seen the 21-year-old continue playing that role of a pressing forward and that’s exactly what he’d be tasked with doing if he ever ended up at Anfield. So it’s certainly encouraging to know that he can likely slot straight into Klopp’s team.

However, the real question over the necessity to sign Vlahovic will come down to the future of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane. Neither forward has signed a contract extension just yet and unless Liverpool get an indication from both players that they’ll be happy to do so soon enough, the Anfield side may need to draw a line under negotiations and begin their search for new strikers. And Vlahovic may be the perfect long-term successor to either star.

How much would he cost?

Although Vlahovic is considered a remarkable talent in Italian football, one of his main attractions from a transfer point of view is that his current deal with Fiorentina is set to expire in 2023.

While that doesn’t mean the Italian club will be forced into selling him in January, it could mean they’ll need to sell next summer for fear of him leaving for free in 12 months time.

As such, Vlahovic is currently valued at €26.2 million and while he’d likely go for much more than that in a January sale, it likely wouldn’t break the bank for Liverpool if they were serious about buying him.