With the season heading into the final stretch and a pandemic still raging, transfer rumors are beginning to form, but big money signings are unlikely to happen with their usual regularity in the coming window.
Clubs, however, still need to conduct business, and strikes are always a hot asset. While all eyes are on the development of Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe, Serbian freight forwarder Dusan Vlahovic is quietly doing all the right things and more for the club and the country.
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Considering goals for fun.
When a new striker emerges as productive in Europe, attention immediately comes their way. Here’s everything you need to know about Vlahovic.
After spending time with Red Star Belgrade in his youth, Vlahovic signed for Partizan Belgrade in 2014 and signed terms of employment a year later, just 15 years old.
In February 2016, he became the youngest player to participate in the Red Star / Partizan Eternal Derby and surpassed a certain Luka Jovic.
A monumental fixture.
Magic from Vlahović! ?
A fantastic strike from distance seals a first half for the young Fiorentina striker? pic.twitter.com/hmmVvTzMeo
– Premier Sports? (@PremierSportsTV) March 13, 2021
If his derby record is not enough, it is also practical to know that Vlahovic is Partizan’s youngest debutant and youngest goal scorer in their history.
However, he was not finished there and has since broken records in Italy. His goal trio against Benevento in March 2021 made him the first Fiorentina player to make his first Serie A debut since 1964.
All Dusan Vlahovic goals so far 2020/21? #ForzaViola? #Fiorentina pic.twitter.com/DE5x9NDwkC
– ACF Fiorentina English (@ACFFiorentinaEN) March 23, 2021
Right, enough posts, here’s what makes Vlahovic so good.
Serbia is a physical beast; he stands at just over six feet but is extremely strong and has a constant engine to carry him through games. His style of play is explosive and while his best work comes into the box to end the game, he is also smart from the ball.
Vlahovic moves well, whether it removes a defender or gives them a push to create a garden with space for himself on real poachers. His left foot can be terminated from a range of angles and distances.
Even though he only scored three goals for Partizan, the rest of his game at such a young age was enough for Fiorentina to make the move happen.
Ibrahimovic quarrels with Vlahovic over possession | Gabriele Maltinti / Getty Images
And it was we who thought it was Rickie Lambert.
If one jokes away, most strikers would probably cite Zlatan Ibrahimovic as a source of inspiration – perhaps not for social media or hairstyles – but instead for his relentless scoring record and ability.
Vlahovic, while still very young and green, has similarities in how he throws his big frame against the ball to score. In an interview in April 2020, the Serb described Ibrahimovic as his “idol” and expressed a desire to play one day with him.
Vlahovic is ranked at a modest 75 in FIFA 21 and is said to have a potential rating of 82.
In career mode, you can probably trap him for up to £ 10 million, making him a great budget option to save you and develop ruthlessly with a little practice.
