Fabrizio Romano reveals it’s decision time for Vlahovic: Beşiktaş won’t wait much longer
Beşiktaş’s pursuit of Dusan Vlahovic has entered a decisive phase. According to renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, the long-running saga around the Serbian striker is approaching a critical point, with the Istanbul club now pushing for a final answer after more than two months of waiting.
Romano stated that Beşiktaş have moved “very seriously” in their attempts to sign Vlahovic and that the coming days will be crucial for the player’s future. The club’s patience, he underlined, is not unlimited.
“Keep an eye on Dusan Vlahovic’s situation this weekend, because the time for a decision is getting closer,” Romano said. “Beşiktaş are treating this deal with real seriousness.”
Beşiktaş’s first move came in early June
The Black-and-Whites made their opening offer for Vlahovic at the beginning of June. Since then, negotiations and waiting have dominated the agenda. Romano reminded that more than two months have passed since that initial proposal, yet the striker has still not given a definitive response.
“Beşiktaş submitted their first bid for Vlahovic in early June,” Romano noted. “So it’s now been over two months since they made the first move. At this stage, Beşiktaş want an answer in the short term.”
The message from the club is clear: the time for uncertainty is over. Beşiktaş are planning the new season and cannot afford to build their squad around a transfer that may or may not happen.
Limited time left before Beşiktaş move on
Romano emphasized that Beşiktaş are ready to wait only a little longer before demanding clarity from the player’s camp. If Vlahovic continues to hesitate, the club is prepared to turn the page and pursue alternative targets.
“They will wait only a bit more,” Romano explained. “Then it will be time for Vlahovic to make his decision.”
Internally, Beşiktaş are aware that every extra week spent waiting could complicate their broader transfer strategy. With the league season and European fixtures looming, the club wants their new centre-forward fully integrated, well-conditioned, and adapted to Vincenzo Italiano’s game model.
Two clear paths for Vlahovic
According to Romano, Vlahovic now stands at a crossroads with two main options in front of him. The first is to continue waiting for offers from Europe’s top leagues, taking the risk that a suitable proposal might not arrive or could come too late. The second is to accept the concrete, long-standing offer from Beşiktaş and move to Turkey, where he would instantly become a central figure.
“We will see if Vlahovic decides to wait a bit longer and take the risk,” Romano said, “or if he will accept the proposal from Vincenzo Italiano’s Beşiktaş and fly to Turkey.”
Beşiktaş are banking on three key selling points: guaranteed starting minutes, a system designed around him, and the chance to rebuild his value in a league where prolific strikers regularly attract attention and big transfers back to Europe.
The Italiano factor: a coach who suits Vlahovic
One element strongly highlighted behind the scenes is the presence of Vincenzo Italiano on the Beşiktaş bench. The Italian coach is known for an attack-minded, high-tempo style that can bring the best out of a classic number nine: frequent penalty-box entries, plenty of crosses, and support from dynamic attacking midfielders.
For Vlahovic, such a framework could be ideal to rediscover his most prolific form. Under a coach who appreciates structured attacking football and pressing from the front, the Serbian forward would not just be a static target man but the focal point of a fluid front line. Within this context, Beşiktaş believe one or two strong seasons in Istanbul could quickly restore – or even increase – his market value in Europe.
Atletico Madrid and the transfer domino effect
Romano also underlined that Vlahovic’s situation does not exist in a vacuum. The striker’s future is indirectly tied to Atletico Madrid and their own transfer planning. The Spanish club’s movements in attack could create a domino effect that reverberates back onto Vlahovic’s options.
“We’re following the developments,” Romano said. “Atletico Madrid’s position also depends on this domino effect.”
If Atletico make a significant move in the striker market, it could either open or close doors for Vlahovic in Western Europe. Beşiktaş are fully aware that they are competing not just with a single club but with an entire chain of potential deals that may influence the player’s decision-making.
Why Beşiktaş are pushing for a quick resolution
From Beşiktaş’s perspective, closing this chapter quickly has become a necessity rather than a preference. The club need a leading striker, and every delay carries a cost: the risk of starting the season without a fully ready centre-forward, the difficulty of integrating late signings, and the possibility of missing out on alternative targets who might sign elsewhere.
There is also a strategic aspect: the longer they appear to be “locked” on one name, the more negotiating power selling clubs and players gain when Beşiktaş come knocking for other options. By setting a de facto deadline for Vlahovic, Beşiktaş are also signalling to the market that they are prepared to pivot decisively.
Why Turkey could be the right move for Vlahovic
Despite hesitations reportedly coming from the player’s side about leaving Europe’s top five leagues, the Turkish league represents a very competitive environment and a powerful platform. For attacking players, it offers:
– High-intensity matches and passionate atmospheres that sharpen mental resilience
– Regular European competition opportunities with clubs like Beşiktaş
– A style of play that often favours attacking stats for well-served strikers
If Vlahovic were to score 20-25 league goals over a season in such an environment, combined with strong European performances, it would be difficult for major European clubs to ignore him. Given his age, a successful spell in Turkey could easily pave the way for another high-fee move later in his career, while also making Beşiktaş significant profit in the process.
Internal pressure and squad planning at Beşiktaş
Within Beşiktaş, there is growing awareness that all transfer decisions are interconnected. The club’s search for a “must-have” goalscorer intersects with decisions in other areas of the pitch, including midfield and defence. The future of key players such as Ndidi and others will influence budget allocation and the final shape of the squad.
If the resources earmarked for Vlahovic remain frozen for too long, it becomes harder to solve other urgent needs, such as adding a left-footed centre-back or reinforcing specific positions with younger, dynamic players who have already completed full pre-season preparations. Hence, the club’s leadership is walking a tightrope between ambition and pragmatism.
What happens if Vlahovic says no – or continues to stall?
Beşiktaş’s stance is increasingly straightforward: either Vlahovic decides in the very near future, or the club will move on. In practical terms, that means:
– Setting an internal deadline after which negotiations are put on hold
– Activating a list of alternative forwards, including younger and possibly less “big-name” players who fit Italiano’s system
– Rebalancing the wage structure and transfer budget if the large financial package reserved for Vlahovic is not used
The risk for the striker is also evident. Turning down a concrete, well-structured project to wait indefinitely for the “perfect” offer from Europe can backfire if such an offer never arrives. At a certain point in the window, many clubs finalize their squads and simply stop looking for another centre-forward.
Decision day approaching
All signs now point toward a decisive moment. Beşiktaş have made their intentions clear: they want Dusan Vlahovic to be the face of their attack and have shown this through an early and persistent pursuit. They have given the player time, accommodation, and patience.
Now, as Fabrizio Romano has underlined, that patience is nearing its limit. In the coming days, Vlahovic must choose: continue to gamble on a late top-level European move, or commit to Vincenzo Italiano’s Beşiktaş project, become the main man in Istanbul, and use Turkey as a springboard to relaunch his career at the highest level.
Whatever the final decision, this transfer story is headed rapidly toward its endgame – and both Beşiktaş’s forward line and the broader European transfer domino could be shaped by the choice Dusan Vlahovic makes next.