Dusan Vlahovic could be an option for Chelsea later in the summer transfer window as the Juventus striker faces an uncertain future at the Allianz Stadium.
The Blues, who scored 38 goals in as many Premier League games last season, have been considering striker options to start a new era under Mauricio Pochettino. Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have already been brought in to form Chelsea's new-look attack, but with so many forward options leaving, there is scope for even more signings before the end of the transfer window.
David Datro Fofana (loan), Kai Havertz and Mason Mount have already left, while Romelu Lukaku, Christian Pulisic, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Hakim Ziyech are all expected to depart. If all of these players are sold, then it could leave Pochettino and Chelsea rather short on attacking options for the new Premier League season that gets underway in a month.
One option could be Vlahovic, who is under contract with Juventus for another three years. Reports coming out of Italy have suggested the Serbian striker is keen to move on from Turin this summer, despite a better-than-decent scoring record of 23 goals in 63 matches in all competitions since signing in January 2022.
The 23-year-old joined the Old Lady for around £70million from Fiorentina last year despite Arsenal having a strong interest in the Serbia international. However, after Juve finished in seventh-place in the Serie A table in the 2022/23 season, Vlahovic could be keen on a new challenge.
It could be an option for Chelsea later in the summer transfer window but right now all of their attention is on securing a deal to sign Moises Caicedo from Brighton. Talks are ongoing with the Seagulls over a possible deal to sign the Ecuadorian midfielder but an agreement is not thought to be close despite personal terms being agreed verbally a while ago, football.london understands.
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By all accounts, it looks like a transfer saga that could drag on – particularly with Brighton, who are notoriously tough when it comes to negotiations – involved. Chelsea, though, will want to get it done as soon as possible so they can turn their attention to other targets. Vlahovic is someone Chelsea have long admired, even when he was playing his football at Fiorentina.
Victor Osimhen is also someone that has been mentioned. The Nigerian, however, is a man very much in demand this summer after firing Napoli to the Serie A title last season with 26 goals in 32 appearances for Gli Azzurri. Chelsea are in a queue of clubs to have registered their interest and it has been suggested he would only choose a side that have Champions League football to boast.
Vlahovic compared to two stars
Standing at 6ft 2in, Vlahovic is a very powerful centre-forward, both in the air and on the ground. The Serbian is very quick given his size – in a way, similar to Erling Haaland.
Incidentally, he has been compared to the Manchester City striker before. Likewise, a certain Kylian Mbappe.
"Dusan Vlahovic is doing well. He is improving and I am very happy with his performances," Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri said on his striker back in September 2022. "Of all the younger international level players, together with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe he is one the best."
Vlahovic himself has actually compared himself to Haaland in the past. Back when he was playing for Fiorentina, the striker said: "Maybe he [Haaland] is only quicker than me, but we are neck and neck on the rest."
Chelsea's outgoings
There is still plenty of business in terms of outgoings to be completed at Stamford Bridge. That is despite a whole host of players already being sold less than a month into the summer transfer window.
Havertz, Mount, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, N'Golo Kante, Cesar Azpilicueta, Baba Rahman and Datro Fofana have all left already, accumulating a total of more than £200million in player sales for the club. Pulisic, Ziyech, Lukaku and Aubameyang are also set to be offloaded.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are open to offers for both Conor Gallagher and Trevoh Chalobah. The Cobham graduates both have plenty of interest from elsewhere and Chelsea are awaiting bids.
