Juventus market, Dusan Vlahovic’s long absence opens a new scenario: Spalletti is also exposed
Dusan Vlahovic’s knockout threatens to radically change Juventus’ market strategies. The Serbian, whose contract expires at the end of the season and is already at the center of rumors of a farewell, could in fact remain stationary for a long time, as confirmed by Luciano Spalletti in the press conference presenting the Coppa Italia round of 16 between the Old Lady and Udinese. “In my opinion he will be stationary two-three months, we are waiting for the doctors’ response to be more precise. It will be one more chance for David and Openda” said the coach from Certaldo. What is certain is that Vlahovic’s absence will force the Bianconeri club to revise plans for the attack. In January, in fact, the club was considering possible offers for Jonathan David, who arrived from Lille but was less incisive than budgeted. The prospect of a long stop for Vlahovic, however, makes his transfer unlikely.
David, therefore, is expected to stay in Turin and will get a chance to play his cards right from the Coppa Italia competition, with more space in general anyway and less direct competition. Together with Lois Openda, however, the Canadian will have to confirm what he has shown only in flashes (for example, with the winning goal in the Champions League against Bodo/Glimt), in a department that needs continuity. On the Vlahovic front, the injury and long absence make the contract situation even more delicate. Renewal negotiations have been at a standstill for months and the gap between supply and demand appears difficult to bridge. Juventus is in danger of losing him on a zero-parameter basis, and given the halt right in conjunction with the winter market, it will take a twist for that not to happen.
Barcelona is looking at what is happening carefully: the Blaugrana need to replace Robert Lewandowski (Milan’s forbidden dream) and the opportunity to sign a world-class center forward for free is particularly attractive. Bayern Munich, which had already probed the ground last summer, could also return to the charge, considering him as an alternative to Harry Kane. In the Premier League, Tottenham is following the situation, while in Italy, a comeback by AC Milan, already close to the player in the past, cannot be ruled out, which could set its sights on Vlahovic if the Lewandowski’s option were to be ruled out. Vlahovic’s injury therefore freezes Juventus’s immediate moves, which will have to retain David and evaluate buffer solutions for the attack, but opens even more complex scenarios ahead of the summer: between difficult renewals and foreign sirens, the Serbian’s future still hangs in the balance.
