Spanish capital trip offers Juventus the chance to cash in

With both Atletico Madrid and Barcelona viable destinations for Juve's highly-paid but outcast striker, Bianconeri boss could be forced to play their top scorer in their Champions League clash.
Juve's marksmen Dusan Vlahovic is in a big of hole at the club under manager Igor Tudor
Juve's marksmen Dusan Vlahovic is in a big of hole at the club under manager Igor Tudor | Marco Canoniero/GettyImages

Tudor continue to try and appease his three well-paid forwards, but there's despondency on many of his troops who are subjected to playing a bit-part role this season.

Despite the wealth of firepower in the shape of Belgium's unorthodox Lois Openda, Canadian goal poacher Jonathan David and the physical presence of old-fashioned center forward Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus have failed to score in their past two matches.

Real Madrid in Wednesday's Champions League contest is the opportunity to end this dismal run, with the free-flowing antics of wingers Francisco Conceicao and Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz expected to cause the La Liga leaders some problems.

Barcelona keen on Juve pair

While Barcelona will no doubt have scouts rueing their eye over 20-year-old rising star Yildiz, the Catalan club will also be checking out Serbia star Vlahovic. Although Tudor may be better off opting for the pace of Openda to tackle Xabi Alonso's Los Blancos, he may be urged by the Juve hierarchy to start with Vlahovic.

This scenario is viable, because wantaway forward Vlahovic is being monitored by Spanish giants Atletico Madrid and Barcelona. Both clubs have been long-term admirers of the 25-year-old who has finished as Juve's top scorer each season.

Juventus are willing to negotiate a winter transfer, rather than letting Vlahovic leave as a free agent in the summer, but a figure of €15 million (US$17.4m) does not offer terrific value when he will cost nothing in July.

There's also serious Premier League interest from both Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, although these teams are also likely to be deterred by Juve's high asking price.

Clubs wary of overall cost for Vlahovic

This is a real challenge for Juventus to find a suitable club that is willing to take on Vlahovic, who commands the highest salary in Serie A, and the arguably laughable transfer fee.

Tudor is under intense scrutiny. He faces a daunting trip to Madrid followed by a tricky league fixture at Lazio, with back-to-back defeats likely to see the Croatian 47-year-old given the boot

If the Bianconeri make a managerial change then suddenly Vlahovic could fit in with a new Vecchia Signora project, rather than not know from one game to the next whether he will make an appearance.

Vlahovic has the chance to prove his worth to both Juventus and potential Spanish suitors when the David vs Goliath Champions League clash takes place on Wednesday, He is a player who needs service to succeed, but for both club and country has suffered when man-marked out of matches.