Transfer News: Chelsea and Newcastle Eye Free Agent Dusan Vlahovic as Juventus Clock Ticks
Transfer News: Newcastle United have made signing a centre-forward a top priority this summer, setting their sights firmly on Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic, who Chelsea and other Premier League sides are also tracking closely. Transfer insider Ekrem Konur reported that Chelsea’s fresh interest is directly tied to the ongoing Liam Delap situation at Stamford Bridge. Industry insider Mick Brown told Football Insider that he simply cannot see Delap surviving under incoming manager Xabi Alonso, and with that picture growing clearer by the day, the Blues are already identifying replacements.
Transfer News at Juventus: Vlahovic’s Contract Situation Explained
Talks over a contract extension in Turin have reportedly collapsed after Juventus asked Vlahovic to accept a pay cut, and as a result, the forward’s representatives are actively exploring options in England. With his contract at the Allianz Stadium expiring in June 2026, the Serbian striker is on course to become a free agent this summer, putting several clubs on immediate alert.
Juventus, who paid roughly £66.6 million to bring him from Fiorentina in January 2022, face the painful prospect of losing him for absolutely nothing. Despite the club’s best efforts to tie him down to an extension, Vlahovic is currently set to be available on a free transfer, and he has notched 118 goals in 301 senior appearances across his career. His net annual salary of €12 million remains a potential hurdle for any prospective club, though the absence of a transfer fee changes the financial equation considerably.
Transfer News: Race Heats Up Between Chelsea and Newcastle
TEAMtalk reported that Chelsea are positioned most strongly in the race for Vlahovic at this stage, with Newcastle running them close. Sources at TBR Football confirmed that Vlahovic’s representatives had been touching base with potential destinations, with Chelsea and Tottenham both spoken to by intermediaries already, though Tottenham’s interest appears to have cooled compared to the London pair. AC Milan, who attempted to sign him last summer before that deal fell through, remain in the background as well.
Would Vlahovic Actually Work Under Xabi Alonso at Chelsea?
I probably feel yes, but with significant caveats worth examining carefully.
Alonso has typically favoured tall strikers as a focal point in his systems, and Vlahovic, standing at 6ft 1in with a powerful build and a left foot that draws comparisons to a battering ram, fits that physical profile well. At Leverkusen, Alonso enjoyed real success with a 3-4-2-1 system, and Cole Palmer would relish one of the two roles behind the striker, much as Wirtz did in Germany. That setup essentially hands the centre-forward a licence to stay high, occupy defenders, and finish, which is precisely what Vlahovic does best.
Alonso has consistently produced strong output from his leading strikers across every club he has managed, from Real Sociedad B through Leverkusen to Real Madrid, and Vlahovic’s possible arrival for free removes the financial pressure that usually poisons a big signing’s confidence. The realistic concern, though, sits with his injury record and his wage demands rather than his tactical fit.
Chelsea already have João Pedro, who scored 14 Premier League goals and registered 26 goal contributions across all competitions this season, so Vlahovic would not walk straight into the team. Competition for the starting spot would be fierce and potentially unsettling for a player who has never thrived in a secondary role.
Transfer News – £107m star eyes Man City exit as Chelsea prepare farewell
On balance, a free transfer makes this worth the risk for Chelsea, but only if his wage demands sit at a figure the club can genuinely justify given PSR constraints. If he accepts around £150,000 per week rather than his current Italian earnings, this deal makes real sense.
