Dusan Vlahovic hands Arsenal, Chelsea & Barcelona big transfer boost | OneFootball

Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is expected to reject the offer a new contract in Turin, strengthening the chance of one of several suitors securing a transfer by next season.

Vlahovic was a big money capture for Juventus in January 2022 after making his name in Serie A with Fiorentina, beating Arsenal to the punch at the time.

But the contract he signed three years ago has now entered its final 18 months.

Gazzetta dello Sport writes that talks between Juventus and the player's camp took place shortly before Christmas. The Serie A giants want to avoid heading towards 2026 with Vlahovic on an expiring deal and potentially lose him as a free agent without a transfer fee. But free agency, with it a pick of clubs and healthy signing bonus, is said to be what his representatives are "aiming for".

The comparison is made to the situation Juventus found themselves in with Federico Chiesa last summer, albeit a more expensive instance. Chiesa was sold to Liverpool for around €15m.

If Vlahovic is set against signing a new contract, it raises the possibility that Juventus may be forced into considering a sale before the summer transfer window closes.

A number of clubs are linked with Dusan Vlahovic / BSR Agency/GettyImages

Arsenal, having been chasing the 24-year-old the last time he was on the move, are being increasingly linked again amid a lack of attacking depth and injury to Gabriel Jesus. Similarly, Chelsea are in the market for a striker, having lacked a prolific 'number nine' since the days of Diego Costa roaming Stamford Bridge.

Barcelona have also been linked, with the Catalan giants set to become more competitive in the transfer market in the coming months and Robert Lewandowski due to celebrate his 37th birthday in August, as have Saudi Pro League giants Al Nassr - prominent Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that a move to the Middle East has already been rejected by Vlahovic.

Juventus had been short on forwards in recent months, but Nico Gonzalez has returned from injury and Randal Kolo Muani has arrived on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

Vlahovic scored 18 goals across all competitions last season, although he hasn't been over 20 since 2021/22 when the majority of his 29 that campaign were for Fiorentina.