Chelsea to rival Newcastle for Juventus talisman

Chelsea and Newcastle are monitoring the situation of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. The player’s contract will expire in the summer, with several teams in Europe keen on his services.

Calciomercato has reported that both Chelsea and Newcastle have made inquiries regarding a deal for the 26-year-old, alongside Serie A giants AC Milan. Vlahovic’s salary demands could work in favour of Premier League sides, with the player reportedly demanding an improvement on his current €12m net per-year package.

It is a sizeable figure, one that Juventus has not been prepared to match hence the standoff in extension talks with the player. Vlahovic is now free to negotiate a pre contract agreement with any club and will be fielding offers from far and wide.

The Serbia international joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 2022 and has gone on to make 117 Serie A appearances for the club scoring 46 goals. He quickly established himself as Juventus’ main man in attack, having led the line for the better part of five seasons.

He’s off to a slow start this season by his standards, scoring three goal in 13 Serie A appearances.

Chelsea signed Joao Pedro and Liam Delap last summer in a new look Blues attack. While the former has hit the ground running, question marks remain over his best position. The latter has struggled for impact in a Chelsea shirt with many calling for an upgrade in that position.

Joao Pedro has enjoyed a bright start at Stamford Bridge and has deputized in the No.10 role as well as striker. He has scored nine goals and added four assists in 24 Premier League appearances. Delap has scored just once in 15 Premier League appearances.

Some sections of the Chelsea supporters have called for Pedro to be played on the wing like he did in his Brighton days, with Cole Palmer occupying the No.10 role behind a top goal scorer.

Vlahovic fits the goalscoring profile on many Blues supporters wish list. Signing the player as a free agent is appealing as Chelsea won’t have to stump up a large transfer fee.

Newcastle also boast two new strikers, having signed Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa last summer after Alexander Isak’s move to Liverpool. The pair have performed well for the Magpies but have suffered injury problems at certain stages.

Eddie Howe’s men could be on the market for more reinforcements in that area.

Nadji is a football writer with over 10 years of experience covering the Premier League. His work has been featured on Football Fancast, Arsenal-Mania, and Arsenal.com, where he has built a reputation for delivering sharp analysis, engaging storytelling, and in-depth coverage of the game.

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