Vlahović Tops Candidates to Succeed Álvarez at Atlético Madrid

Serbian striker Dušan Vlahović tops the list of candidates to replace Julián Álvarez at Atlético Madrid, should the Argentine international leave during the summer transfer window, amid ongoing speculation about his future and desire for a new experience.

Julián Álvarez had expressed his desire to leave, stating that a transfer is best for everyone and that he seeks to achieve his dream, amidst reports linking him to a move to Barcelona. Nevertheless, Atlético Madrid remains firm in its stance, especially since the player is under contract until 2030 with a release clause of 500 million euros.

Amidst discussions about the Argentine striker's future, the newspaper 'Mundo Deportivo' highlighted that Vlahović is at the forefront of candidates to join Atlético Madrid with a 23.9% likelihood.

Atlético Madrid's chances in the race to sign Vlahović surpass those of other clubs, with predictions giving Galatasaray a 14.6% chance, Fenerbahçe 13.2%, and Chelsea ranking fourth with 12%.

Vlahović, 26, is preparing to become a free agent in the coming days after his contract with Juventus expires, allowing him to move freely to any club. It's worth noting that Atlético Madrid attempted to sign him in the summer of 2021 when he was with Fiorentina, before negotiations stalled and the club turned to signing Matheus Cunha.

Despite Atlético Madrid's potential interest, Vlahović's declining performance in recent seasons with Juventus raises some concerns within the Spanish club, as his performance gradually decreased during his time in Turin.

Meanwhile, other names are being considered as potential replacements for Julián Álvarez, including Portuguese striker Rafael Leão from Milan.

Leão, 27, has informed Milan of his desire to leave despite having two years left on his contract, after deciding not to continue at San Siro following the team's failure to qualify for the Champions League. His transfer value is estimated at around 50 million euros.

Marcus Rashford's name has also emerged as an option, especially after it was confirmed that Barcelona would not activate the option to sign him. Predictions give Atlético Madrid a 3.3% chance to sign the 28-year-old English striker, whose contract with Manchester United extends for two more years, with his departure valued at around 40 million euros.

As for Egyptian Mohamed Salah, his name has been mentioned among the players linked to Atlético Madrid, but with a much lower probability, as the chances of the Egyptian star joining the Madrid team do not exceed 1.8%.