Juventus are reportedly eyeing Chelsea star Romelu Lukaku to replace Dusan Vlahovic.
According to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Serie A giants Juventus have made a bid of €40 million for Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku in the ongoing summer transfer window.
The Bianconeri have a big season ahead of them after what was a forgettable 2022/23 campaign. Massimiliano Allegri and co. struggled to make much of an impact and will now approach the 2023/24 season with no European football available.
With a squad revamp in the works, Allegri will have several key decisions to make this summer. One involves the future of star striker Dusan Vlahovic. The Serb has struggled to reproduce the same form he showed at Fiorentina and could be on his way out. Despite signing Arkadiusz Milik on a permanent deal, Vlahovic’s exit will necessitate the need to bring in another top striker.
The Turin giants are now eyeing Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku should Vlahovic leave. Their €40 million offer to Chelsea will only come into effect should the Serbian striker leave the Allianz Stadium.
Lukaku deal situation 🇧🇪
◉ Inter final bid: €35m plus €5m add ons.
◉ Inter have still NO answer from Lukaku to close the deal.
◉ Juventus sent €37.5m + €2.5m bid to Chelsea — but ONLY valid if they sell Vlahović.
◉ Lukaku spoke to Juventus; Inter not happy with that. pic.twitter.com/CfqzSz1Wau
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 14, 2023
Juventus’s bid appears to be an initial fee of €37.5 million plus €2.5 million in bonuses. Collectively, it matches Inter Milan’s bid of €35 million plus €5 million in add ons for the Belgian star. Either offer represents a massive loss for the Blues, who paid a king’s ransom to land the player in 2021.
Lukaku has in the past made it clear that he is keen to leave Chelsea for Inter. However, by not approving Inter’s offer and entering talks with Juventus, he now risks burning multiple bridges at the same time. Turning out in the Bianconeri colours should more or less earn him the wrath of the Nerazzurri ultras.
Chelsea were in the past linked with a move for Vlahovic. However, that has now cooled, pouring cold water on any hope Juventus might have had of including both players in a trade. One way or another, it is imperative that the Serie A giants head into the new season with an infallible goal scorer leading the line.
With the new season just a month away, Lukaku will need to make a decision on his future. A return to Inter will certainly see him back in familiar surroundings and in a system he is familiar with. Surely, that would be the easier option given his struggles at Chelsea.
Juventus will only make their move should Vlahovic leave, leaving all three clubs involved in a limbo until that happens, if at all. Either way, he risks ending up caught up in an unwanted saga unless he makes up his mind soon.