Chelsea have received a damaging blow to their pursuit of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic. The Blues are keen to improve the attacking options ahead of next season after scoring 36 goals in 36 games.
Under Thomas Tuchel, Graham Potter and Frank Lampard, Chelsea have lacked serious threat in the final third. Kai Havertz and Joao Felix have been the regular figures in centre-forward, but have ultimately failed to deliver the clinical edge needed.
Next season, Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to rely heavily on a number nine to score the goals. RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku is expected to join in the summer, but another forward is expected to follow the Frenchman.
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Napoli's Victor Osimhen has been linked after his world-class season in Italy, but it's Vlahovic that is said to be attracting the most interest from Stamford Bridge.
According to reports, Todd Boehly had made the Juventus man their top target and had offered £70 million for the Serbia international. Vlahovic only joined Juve last year, but has been tipped to leave the club after struggling to rediscover his form that earned him a move from Fiorentina.
The striker has seemed destined for a move to the Premier League, with him rejecting the chance to join Arsenal in January 2022. However, it seems Chelsea's reported first move for the 22-year-old has been rebuffed.
Juventus chief football officer, Francesco Calvo, has insisted the club have no plans to sell Vlahovic in the summer. "Rumours are not something we can control, but the transfer market hasn't even opened yet," he told DAZN.
"Dusan is not for sale. We are satisfied with the effort he puts in, although everyone in life can do better."
Juventus' stance on Vlahovic's future could very well change in Chelsea's favour, after it was confirmed the Italian giants would be docked 10 points for their financial mismanagement.
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