Fenerbahce Leads Race for Alexander Sorloth as Atletico Targets Vlahovic

Fenerbahce have moved to the front of the queue for Alexander Sorloth, with the Turkish giants now leading the race to prise the striker away from Atletico Madrid, according to Marca’s Matteo Moretto, as cited by beIN Sports.

The Norwegian, signed from Villarreal in August 2024, is tied to Atletico until June 2028. That contract length gives the Spanish club leverage, but Fenerbahce are understood to be one of the few sides willing – and able – to hit the €40m (£34m/$46m) valuation set by the Metropolitano hierarchy.

This is not just another big-money chase for a centre-forward. For Atletico, Sorloth’s sale sits at the heart of their entire summer plan.

Sorloth sale key to Atletico’s Vlahovic gamble

Atletico see Sorloth as the asset who can unlock their market. The expected fee would not only inject cash into the balance sheet; it would also clear vital space on the wage bill, space they intend to hand to Dusan Vlahovic.

The Serbian is lined up to arrive on a free transfer once his Juventus contract expires at the end of June. No transfer fee, but certainly not a cheap signing. Atletico need room – financially and structurally – to make that move work.

Right now, no club has yet placed a formal offer that fully meets Atletico’s asking price, but talks with Fenerbahce are active and ongoing. The shape of the deal, rather than the will to do it, is what’s on the table.

From aerial battering ram to high-intensity spearhead

Losing Sorloth would change the look of Diego Simeone’s attack. The Norwegian offers a classic focal point: tall, powerful, relentless in the air. He pins centre-backs, gives his side an out ball, and turns hopeful crosses into real chances.

Take that away and Atletico lose a certain type of brutality in the final third.

Vlahovic, though, would twist the system in a different direction. His arrival would bring a more explosive, high-intensity edge to the front line – sharper movement, more pressing from the front, a striker who wants to run channels rather than simply dominate them physically.

It’s a stylistic pivot as much as a financial one. Simeone would be swapping an aerial specialist for a striker built to stretch games and hunt relentlessly without the ball.

Fenerbahce’s statement move

For Fenerbahce, Sorloth is not a luxury signing. He is the plan.

The Istanbul club view him as the central pillar of their attacking project, the man to lead both their domestic title push and their European campaigns. A proven scorer with the frame to bully defences in the Turkish league and the experience to handle continental nights.

Negotiations have moved into the decisive phase. Both clubs are now locked in talks over how the €40m package will be structured: how much up front, how much spread over time, and what performance-related add-ons will be tied to goals, appearances, or team success.

The pressure point is clear. Once the two sides agree on the payment schedule and bonuses, Sorloth’s path to Istanbul opens – and with it, Atletico’s path to finally bringing Vlahovic through the doors of the Metropolitano.