Chelsea eye summer deal for Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic
According to ESPN via FootballTransfers, Premier League side Chelsea have made Juventus star Dusan Vlahovic their priority for the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Blues are coming off a poor season that has seen them miss out on European qualification completely. In a season where four managers have taken charge at Stamford Bridge, the lack of direction and long-term vision have been clear for all to see.
Despite spending hundreds of millions to reinforce the squad, Chelsea lacks a reliable number who can consistently find the back of the net. In fact, only three other teams have scored fewer than Chelsea in the Premier League this season.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang out of favour and Armando Broja injured, the onus to lead the line has fallen on Kai Havertz. To say that the German has failed to rise to the occasion would be an understatement.
Dusan Vlahovic has also endured a difficult campaign with Juventus and is currently struggling to find goals on a consistent basis. One can argue that Massimiliano Allegri’s ultra-defensive approach does the Serbian striker no favours. He has 14 goals across all competitions this season.
Juventus have struggled going forward this season and have looked clueless in the absence of Angel Di Maria. Federico Chiesa has struggled with injuries as well, limiting his impact. With Di Maria set to leave in the summer, life should only get harder for Vlahovic.
At 23, Vlahovic has the best years of his career ahead of him. He is unhappy at the Allianz Stadium and could do with a move elsewhere. Chelsea are likely to make an €80 million bid for his services and will have to put down some serious cash to
Good in the air and capable of holding up the ball, Vlahovic has the ability to thrive as a target man. Chelsea have a plethora of creativity on the wings and midfield, meaning the Serbian won’t have to struggle for service if he moves to Stamford Bridge.
What this means for the future of Romelu Lukaku remains uncertain. Mauricio Pochettino could give the Belgian star another opportunity but he appears to prefer to stay at Inter Milan. Whether it be Vlahovic or someone else, there is little option for Chelsea but to go out and invest in a new number nine in the summer.
