With Robert Lewandowski expected to move on at the end of the season, signing a new top centre-forward has become a priority for FC Barcelona for the summer.
Names like Harry Kane and Julian Alvarez have been linked, but they could be out of reach due to various factors. Another player that has been mentioned as a potential target happens to be Dusan Vlahovic, who is out of contract at Juventus at the end of the season.
A few weeks ago, Dusan Ilic, the Serbian national team fitness coach and one of the striker’s closest confidants, made headlines by directly linking Vlahovic’s future with Barcelona.
“He will go to Barça. That is what I think. Before joining Juventus, he already had the chance to play in Spain because he had an offer from Atletico Madrid, but he chose to stay in Italy. Now it is different,” he said in an interview.
Vlahovic in renewal talks with Juventus
However, according to Gianluca Di Marzio (h/t SPORT), Juventus have already begun efforts to extend Vlahovic’s contract, viewing him as a key figure in their project for the coming seasons.
The Italian giants held an initial meeting with the player’s camp last week. During that discussion, both sides expressed a willingness to continue together.
There is not yet, by any means, a definitive agreement. However, club and player are expected to meet again in the coming days in an attempt to narrow differences and finalise a renewal that would extend his stay.
Juventus have made clear that they are prepared to offer an extension under their own terms. Vlahovic, for his part, has indicated that his priority is to listen to and evaluate the proposal from the Bianconeri before considering any other offers, at least for now.
What is clear is that, despite his contract nearing its end, the Serbian has not reached any agreement with another club. He will consult with his father and his trusted advisors before resuming negotiations, and a new meeting with Juventus is expected shortly.
Both parties will need to make concessions to reach a financial agreement. For now, there is a shared willingness to negotiate and attempt to find common ground.
