Dusan Vlahovic, who has been the Bianconeri’s top scorer for the past seasons after arriving in January 2022 from Fiorentina, remains a dilemma for the Turin titans.
He was unsettled during the summer, and expected to leave at a bargain price because Juventus wanted to cash in before he becomes a free agent next June.
The club are also looking at offloading Filip Kostic, Weston McKennie, Carlo Pinsoglio and Daniele Rugani, as like Vlahovic they are in their final season at Juventus.
Vlahovic’s steep salary, being the highest earner in Serie A on a whopping annual wage of €12 million (US$14m), deterred many potentially interested teams from making a bid for the Serbia striker.
Saudi and Turkish clubs rejected
The high salary demands were not a problem for clubs from Saudi Pro League, with Turkish Super Lig giants from Istanbul coming perilously close to his current wage. Yet Vlahovic has rejected relentless offers from these cash-rich clubs since last winter’s transfer window.
A reunion with former Juventus boss Max Allegri at ambitious AC Milan, who were Serie A’s top spenders during the summer, looked likely although Vlahovic was favoring a switch to the Premier League.
His agent even traveled to England for a string of meetings with Premier League clubs in mid-July to try and broker a deal, but nothing materialized.
After Vlahovic kept showing that he has the midas touch by scoring in pre-season friendlies, there was genuine interest from La Liga outfits Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Villarreal.
His red-hot form, outshining goal poacher Jonathan David throughout the warm-up matches and in the two Serie A games, has resulted in Juventus re-evaluating his value to the club.
Threat of newcomers' David and Openda
Juventus got Canada ace David as a freebie in early July, and added Belgium’s unorthodox forward Lois Openda on transfer deadline day as the deal for Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain collapsed.
Reports in the French media claim that Juve general manager Damien Comolli changed the goal posts in a late bid to save money over Muani, which allowed Tottenham Hotspur to swoop.
Vlahovic may not have started either of the Serie A matches, but his contribution and goals have alerted the Juventus hierarchy to contemplate offering the 25-year-old an improved contract.
Talks stalled when Juve only offered Vlahovic a deal with a greatly reduced wage, but now there could be a rethink by the club. Especially as the player can sign a pre-contract agreement with another club without having to go through Juventus in January.
Loyalty bonus gone if Juve exit made
Leaving the Bianconeri would result in losing a €4m (US$4.6m) loyalty bonus, although on his salary and any future wage that is simply a drop in the ocean.
For Vlahovic to contemplate extending his deal with Juve will depend on how the fans react to him and if there is more belief in his silky skills from head coach Igor Tudor.
Tudor is a no-nonsense manager but has made some U-turns rather than digging his heels in over decisions. A plethora of players, including Vlahovic, are effectively on a rollercoaster ride under the Croatian former Juventus defender.
The arrival of David was to replace Vlahovic, and with Openda joining the ranks there’s three strikers chasing one starting place under Tudor’s rigid tactical approach of a single target man.
Vlahovic’s substitute displays and goals in friendlies and Serie A action warrant a starting berth, but Tudor appears to be sticking to his guns and playing David with the Serbia marksman added after the hour-mark.
Supersub role could suit Vlahovic
Frequently appearing as a supersub for Vlahovic, with short bursts and a desperate urge to prove his value, could end up proving very profitable for Juventus if he keeps bagging goals.
Should the club continue to insult him with the contract on offer and not shift on his salary demands, they will have to rely on David and Openda to help them grab the glory.
David snatches goals, especially from tight spaces, yet Openda failed to strike double figures in the German Bundesliga last term. Vlahovic is a reliable scorer, and knows how to find the back of the net in the Italian top tier.
At the Continassa training centre there is never any doubt about Vlahovic, just in the boardroom and on the terraces. The way that he is utilized over the next couple of months by Tudor will be a make-or-break scenario for a player who should be more popular with Juve supporters.