Negotiations for a new contract between Dusan Vlahovic and Juventus have reached a standstill, amidst interest from Chelsea and Arsenal.
The 24-year-old striker scored his 11th goal of the season in a 2-2 draw against Venezia on Saturday, securing a late penalty. However, it appears that Vlahovic is likely to leave Juventus. Sources suggest that manager Thiago Motta prefers a different style of striker, and Vlahovic’s departure could come as early as next summer, or even in January.
Discussions about renewing his contract have stalled, and Juventus is considering reducing Vlahovic’s €65-70 million (£53.8-58m) price tag by €10-15 million (£8.2m-£12.4m) to free up funds. Arsenal has long been interested in the 6ft 3in forward, whose contract runs until 2026, and Chelsea recently inquired about his situation, though their interest remains in the early stages. Atletico Madrid is also monitoring the player.
Following Juventus’ disappointing 2-2 draw against Venezia, fans expressed frustration with the team, and Vlahovic responded by sarcastically holding up his thumb to the crowd. Additionally, Vlahovic made a pointed comment about manager Motta last month, seemingly critiquing his defensive demands on the striker.
He mentioned after a Nations League match against Switzerland: “Yes, I like to play with another striker on the side. I get on well but it also depends on the coach. Definitely it is a bit easier because [Aleksandar] Mitrovic is a strong player who plays a lot with his back to goal and engaging in aerial duels and I can exploit my qualities. It’s also because coach Dragan Stojković did not force me to do so many defensive tasks. And for a player like me, for my frame…honestly I can’t run so much. Because then I am not fresh in the final third.”
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