Atlético Madrid close in on Dušan Vlahović signing

Atlético Madrid are now close to signing Fiorentina forward Dušan Vlahović, according to reports in Italy.

Corriere dello Sport lead the way, saying a deal worth €70 million has been agreed.

It is up to Fiorentina owner Rocco Commisso to decide whether he wants to sell the forward or keep hold of him despite Atlético’s improved offer.

Diego Simeone needs a striker to back up Luis Suárez, and Atlético have been eyeing up a number of different players to fill the role. Atlético were interested in bringing back Antoine Griezmann from Barcelona and then turned their attention to Rafa Mir of Wolves.

Neither of those negotiations bore fruit, despite Spanish media reports boasting in recent weeks of a done deal for Mir.

Andrea Berta, Atlético’s sporting director, turned his sights back to Serie A — and to the 21-year-old Serbian who scored 21 goals last season.

Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

The forward market has picked up drastically as the summer transfer window draws to a close. Harry Kane (linked with a British-record transfer Manchester City) and Romelu Lukaku (back at Chelsea once again after a €115 million transfer) are provoking seismic shifts in the market, as several clubs are negotiating for new forwards with domestic seasons now underway.

Spurs and Arsenal are said to be keen on Vlahović since Kane’s future at the club in doubt, and Inter Milan forward Lautaro Martínez is said to be in the London clubs’ orbit.

But at the moment, it seems there are only two destinations for Vlahović — another season with the Viola, or the Wanda Metropolitano.