Dusan Vlahovic might just stay put at Juventus for the second half of the campaign
Tottenham made amends for their disappointing performance against Chelsea by securing a dominant Champions League victory on Tuesday night. The Lilywhites produced a goal-filled display, defeating FC Copenhagen 4-0 at home to extend their unbeaten run in the competition this season. There were several positives to take, not least that the attackers finally stepped up and influenced the result under Thomas Frank.
Summer signing Randal Kolo Muani played a significant role for the North London side in only his third start for the club. He led the line with purpose, pressing defenders and closing passing lanes effectively. The Frenchman also capitalised on a mistake from the Copenhagen goalkeeper, chasing down a long ball from Pedro Porro before unselfishly setting up Wilson Odobert for a simple tap-in to make it 2-0.
However, Richarlison did dampen the mood slightly when his penalty struck the crossbar and bounced the wrong side of the goal line. The Brazilian is clearly short of confidence, going ten matches without finding the net for the Lilywhites this season. Time appears to be running out for the 28-year-old to prove his worth under Thomas Frank.
Tottenham set to miss out on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic amid transfer links
Tottenham are considering replacing Richarlison in the coming months as Thomas Frank looks to strengthen the attack ahead of the second half of the campaign. The club want to build on their promising start, and bringing in a new centre forward who can compete with Solanke and Kolo Muani has become a priority.
Recent reports linked Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic with a move to N17, with the Serbian international expected to leave Turin. The Lilywhites viewed him as an ideal replacement for Richarlison as they aim to improve their attacking options. The reports also suggested that Juventus were prepared to let the forward leave in January for €20 million to avoid losing him for free next summer, when his contract expires.
However, the situation surrounding the 26-year-old has changed significantly in recent hours. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, new Juventus manager Luciano Spalletti now intends to make Vlahovic his first-choice striker for the remainder of the season, giving the Serbian a genuine opportunity to revive his career in Turin. Should he perform well, Juventus are prepared to offer him a new contract with an improved salary.
This development is a major setback for Spurs, who have long admired the player. Nevertheless, the Lilywhites must now shift their attention to alternative targets if they still intend to strengthen their attack. Recent reports have linked them with Vlahovic’s competitor at Juventus, Jonathan David. The Canadian forward has fallen down the pecking order in Turin, making a January move increasingly likely.
Will Vlahovic end up leaving Juve for Tottenham in the coming months? Only time will tell.