It is no secret that FC Barcelona has been scouting multiple center-forwards in preparation for next summer’s transfer window. It is understood that Juventus striker Dusan Vlahović is among their targets — the forward, whose contract expires on June 30, has decided to leave Turin as a free agent. Barça’s sporting director Deco has been in contact with the player’s agent Darko Ristić since last August; although no official offer has been made yet, the Serbian striker’s name has always been under Barça’s consideration.
The 26-year-old Vlahović joined Juventus for a whopping €75 million four years ago. Despite scoring double figures in each season, he has never fully lived up to the expectations. After learning that the club would not renew his contract in 2024, the striker firmly chose to leave after his contract expired. Even though he received multiple offers from the Premier League, he consistently refused to transfer and insisted on seeing out the final year of his contract.
As a free-transfer forward option, Vlahović’s technical characteristics are similar to those of Robert Lewandowski — he is a typical penalty-area center-forward with rich experience in international competitions. Over the past six months, he has been linked with teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United, but the player’s team has always refused any transfer moves that would harm Juventus’ interests.
Bayern Munich also made an inquiry, but Vlahović would find it hard to secure a starting spot at the Bundesliga giants unless Harry Kane leaves this summer. Notably, the striker, who was once highly regarded by Xavi, has long dreamed of playing at Camp Nou. If his salary demands fit within Barça’s financial framework, the two sides are expected to reach an agreement. However, the high annual salary he is seeking as a free agent may become a problem that the Blaugrana need to solve.
