Juventus face battle for prolific young striker

Juventus has their sights set on a rising force in Italian football – Bologna's Dutch striker Joshua Zirkzee according to Football Italia.

The 22-year-old marksman is turning heads in Serie A, and is seen as the perfect candidate to lead the Juventus attack long-term. But there's a catch, and it comes in the form of Dusan Vlahovic.

Juventus' pursuit of Zirkzee can only truly go into overdrive if they manage to offload Vlahovic this summer. A significant offer for the Serbian star would trigger a chain reaction, freeing up the funds necessary to chase the in-demand Dutchman. So, for now, Vlahovic holds the key to any potential Zirkzee deal.

Juventus better be prepared to pull out all the stops – and their biggest checkbook – because Europe's elite are circling. Napoli has already thrown their hat in the ring, while Premier League powerhouses Manchester United and Arsenal lurk in the shadows.

It's no secret that AC Milan views Zirkzee as a top priority, and could sweeten a deal by offering Alexis Saelemaekers in a player-swap move.

Bologna is in no rush to let their star hitman go cheaply. Director Marco Di Vaio is on record saying that Zirkzee's departure won't be considered until the summer window opens.

Meanwhile, the threat of Bayern Munich triggering their €40 million buyback clause hangs over proceedings. It seems whoever comes out on top of the Zirkzee chase will have to pay a hefty premium.