Dusan Vlahovic is taking a significant risk with his future by holding out for a potential move to Barcelona this summer, despite having a lucrative offer from Besiktas on the table.
The Serbia striker and his representatives are monitoring developments in Barcelona’s transfer market, believing there may eventually be an opportunity for him to join the Catalan club.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Besiktas have been waiting for almost a month for Vlahovic to respond to their proposal. The Turkish club have offered him a signing-on bonus of more than €5m, along with a net annual salary of €8m for each of the two seasons covered by the proposed contract.
The package is understood to be financially beyond the reach of any other club currently interested in the striker.
Vlahovic initially asked Besiktas for a reasonable amount of time to consider the offer. The club later issued him with an ultimatum, but the Serbia international responded by requesting further time before making a decision.
The deal has not yet collapsed partly because Besiktas manager Vincenzo Italiano has urged the club’s hierarchy to remain patient. Italiano previously coached Vlahovic at Fiorentina during the striker’s best period at the club and is convinced that he could make a decisive impact for his side.
Vlahovic’s representatives first offered the player to Barcelona at the beginning of the transfer window. However, the Spanish club made it clear that he was not a priority and rejected his initial financial demands.
At that stage, Vlahovic was seeking a €10m signing-on fee and a net annual salary of €8m. Barcelona’s sporting department and manager Hansi Flick had instead made Argentina forward Julian Alvarez their preferred target and were prepared to fight to sign him.
Vlahovic has since reduced his demands following his definitive separation from Juventus. His revised terms for Barcelona are understood to have been adjusted to fit the club’s financial limits.
Even so, Barcelona have taken no concrete steps to advance a deal. Vlahovic’s name remains under consideration, but there is uncertainty over whether the club will pursue the move.
Barcelona recognise the Serbian as a forward with considerable ability, although his recent physical problems and his style of play have prompted significant reservations. Those concerns have prevented the club from treating him as an automatic solution to their attacking needs.
For now, Vlahovic continues to wait and hope that circumstances at Barcelona will change. That strategy carries a clear danger: Besiktas could withdraw their offer, leaving him without a destination.
The Turkish club have given him until 10 August to reach a decision. Until then, the striker is gambling on Barcelona becoming a realistic option while risking the substantial proposal already available to him from Besiktas.
