Liverpool have reopened their search for a striker. Dusan Vlahovic has quickly moved into focus. A reported €20 million bid reflects both urgency and opportunity. Juventus know time is against them. January may be their final window to secure a fee before his contract runs out.
For Liverpool, the timing explains the move. What once looked like a settled attacking group has been disrupted by injuries. Plans shifted faster than expected. The club now face a short-term problem that needs a clear answer.
WHY LIVERPOOL MOVED NOW
Liverpool did not intend to enter the striker market this winter. Last summer was meant to cover that position for the season. Injuries changed the outlook.
Alexander Isak’s setback removed depth almost overnight. That left little margin, especially across multiple competitions. Rather than wait and risk fatigue, Liverpool chose to explore experienced options who could step in quickly.
Vlahovic fits that need. His contract situation lowers the cost. The window gives Liverpool leverage. This is not a long-term rebuild move. It is a response to circumstances.
JUVENTUS FACE A HARD CHOICE
Juventus find themselves boxed into a corner. Vlahovic’s contract expires at the end of the season. Talks over an extension stalled when the club proposed a pay cut. The striker was unwilling to accept it.
Ideally, Juventus would have preferred continuity. Vlahovic still offers value, presence, and goals. But letting him leave for free would be difficult to justify, especially given the club’s financial position.
A January sale now looks like the practical option. €20 million may fall short of earlier expectations. But it represents control rather than loss. Waiting risks getting nothing at all.
WHAT VLAHOVIC STILL OFFERS
Vlahovic’s spell in Turin has divided opinion. The expectations were high after his Fiorentina rise. But the consistency has been uneven. Injuries have also interrupted momentum.
Still, his output remains respectable. Before his recent adductor issue, he featured regularly.
He also contributed goals across competitions. At 25, he remains firmly within his prime years.
He offers physical presence, holds the ball well, and occupies defenders. Those qualities translate across leagues. Liverpool are not chasing potential here. They are chasing reliability.
SLOT’S VIEW OF THE DEAL
Arne Slot is focused on solutions that work immediately. He needs a striker who can absorb pressure and allow others to play around him. Vlahovic fits that brief more than a developmental option would.
Reports suggest Liverpool are willing to meet the striker’s salary demands. Something Juventus were unwilling to do. That difference may prove decisive. Slot values balance and structure. And a forward who brings control rather than chaos helps both.
This is not about spectacle. It is about stability during a demanding phase of the season.
RISKS AND REALITY
There are risks attached. Vlahovic has not dominated Serie A. Injuries have limited his rhythm. The Premier League offers little patience for adjustment.
Yet the fee softens those concerns. €20 million for an established international striker is rare in the current market. Even as a short-term solution, the deal carries logic.
For the player, it also offers a reset. A new league. A fresh narrative. Regular football.
AUTHOR’S INSIGHT
This feels like a move driven by timing rather than excitement. Dusan Vlahovic may not be Liverpool’s long-term answer. But right now he addresses a clear need. In a season shaped by injuries, practical decisions often matter more than perfect ones.
As featured on Walkon.com
