Short of goals, Vasco make a new striker top priority this window | OneFootball

With talks for the midfield very well advanced, Vasco directors shifted their focus behind the scenes and made the signing of an impact center-forward the club’s new top priority this Tuesday (28). The internal assessment within the football department is that coach Pedro Emanuel’s squad urgently needs an undisputed starting No. 9 to solve the team’s lack of goals this season.

Despite the urgency to sign a goalscorer, the first contacts in the international market ended with negative responses. Iranian striker Mehdi Taremi, 34, was offered by intermediaries, but turned down the chance to play in Brazil in order to remain in Europe. The forward has lost space at Greece’s Olympiacos, and had the approval of the Vasco board because of his winning track record at Porto, where he worked with the current directors of the Rio de Janeiro club.

+ Failed deal: Mehdi Taremi turns down offer to play for Vasco

Lucho Rodríguez’s rejection and Vasco’s break from profile

Another option identified for the position was Uruguayan Luciano Rodríguez, who recently had a spell with Bahia. However, the young player’s arrival is considered very complicated, as he is already in very advanced talks to move to Turkey’s Çorum FK. Winger John Yeboah, of Venezia, remains on the list of monitored targets, but the coaching staff believes the Ecuadorian plays more out wide than centrally in the box.

To solve the attacking problem, the board agreed to make an exception to its standard transfer policy. The club usually looks for young players with future resale potential, but is now prioritizing the arrival of an experienced veteran who can deliver immediate results. The scouting numbers make the need crystal clear: Vasco is the team with the most shots in the Brazilian Championship, with more than 17 attempts per game, but has only the 13th-worst attack in the competition, with 23 goals scored.

Who is Luciano Rodríguez?

Luciano Rodríguez is a 23-year-old Uruguayan forward who gained major continental recognition after becoming the hero of his country’s Under-20 World Cup title. Known for his excellent physical strength, powerful long-range finishing, and ability to play at speed, the player was signed by City Football Group to play for the Bahia club before drawing strong interest from European football.

The player stands out for his ability to impose himself against defenders, a profile Vasco is actively seeking in this transfer window.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.