Dusan Vlahovic: A Kane replacement in the making?

The Euros and Copa America are finally over, which means preparation for the 2021/22 season is well underway and so are all the usual transfer rumours.

One of the biggest is that Tottenham Hotspur’s star striker, Harry Kane, wants out. Kane is a huge asset to Spurs and arguably irreplaceable, but there is a rather risky but extremely promising option out there, and that is Dusan Vlahovic.

Vlahovic is a 21-year-old Serbian striker, who started his career at Partizan Belgrade before moving to Italy’s Serie A with Fiorentina, where he is now.

In 2020/21 the 6ft 3 forward scored 21 goals in 37 league appearances. Now despite having a prolific season last year, it is his first, so although the potential is there, will his trajectory upwards continue?

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Vlahovic can be the most rounded young striker in Europe within a few years, should his performances continue and arguable can be the closest to Kane’s current style of play.

Though inconsistent, Vlahovic is a very accurate striker, who knows how to use his size in the air. Currently, his touches of the ball in a creative sense are minimal but has the style and quality to bring more of that, just like Kane does today.

As a young player, it is important to want to learn and be coachable, and according to his former coaches, he has this in abundance.

Serbia Coach Dragan Stoijkovic praises his maturity, whilst former Italy Manager Cesar Prandelli is a huge fan of his work ethic. Vlahovic’s self-belief is not to be doubted either, as the youngster used to liken himself to a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

In 2020/21, Vlahovic made 2.3 shots per game, taking chances that helped him garner those 21 goals and was 1.9 times per 90, showing his ability to bring the ball forward and draw fouls. His passing is definitely something to work on, but at 21, that can be improved as he develops.

So, should Kane force his hand and leave Spurs, with the current market as it is, their best bet could be to take a risk and attempt to forge a new talisman in Vlahovic.