The battling Bianconeri, who are still unbeaten in the Champions League and Serie A this season, have numerous unsettled players after head coach Igor Tudor instructed a cull.
Those squad members who were not picked up during the summer transfer market are already the subject of being offloaded in the winter. Yet finding suitors is easier said than done.
Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz, who finished fifth in the latest Kopa Trophy Ballon d’Or awards, is Juve’s prized asset following his breakthrough season under managers Thiago Motta and Tudor.
The 20-year-old’s valuation is pushing close to the 100 million mark (US$120m), and his ability is perhaps wasted at Juventus under the current boss as undoubtedly his goal is to win trophies rather than praise.
Yildiz has upstaged Juve’s biggest commodity Dusan Vlahovic, and next summer the Bianconeri could see their two best players plying their trade away from Turin.
Vlahovic, who has been formidable in the Italian top tier with Fiorentina and Juve, is the top earner in Serie A so has won plaudits. The problem is that he is untested in other leading leagues, so clubs vying for his signature has become limited.
He can equal his steep salary of €12m (US$14m) a year in the Saudi Pro League, collect almost the same wage at one of the Istanbul giants in the Turkish Pro League but other countries will see him earning less.
Vlahovic rejected Arsenal in January 2022 to join Juventus, but last summer his agent unsuccessfully pushed for the 25-year-old to join the Premier League.
Spain beckons for Bianconeri top scorer
Top Spanish sides Barcelona and Atletico Madrid are serious suitors, while stuttering Newcastle United seems like the most likely English top-flight to land Vlahovic next summer.
AC Milan and Inter Milan are the leading contenders to lure the Serbia star at the end of the current campaign, which would be the equivalent of an own goal by Juve if they failed to extend his contract.
Talks between the Juventus hierarchy and Vlahovic about a new deal stalled in the summer because the Bianconeri insulted him with a substantially lower salary tabled to stay.
When the likes of team-mates Gleison Bremer and Jonathan David are picking up a wage not that much lower, Vlahovic was understandably disappointed by the Turin titans.
Tighter purse strings at Juventus
Since Damion Comolli became general manager the purse strings have been tightened, although they are paying very high salaries for the quartet of summer signings of Francisco Conceicao, David, Lois Openda and Edon Zhegrova.
Vlahovic turned down the opportunity to be reunited with former boss Max Allegri at Milan, who currently occupy top spot in Serie A after five games, because the salary was way below his expectations.
Should Allegri scoop the Scudetto in his inaugural season with Milan, then Vlahovic could be tempted to rethink as like the majority of soccer players he wants to net trophies during his career.
The Bianconeri will have to fork out a €4m (US4.7m) loyalty bonus to Vlahovic should he opt to sport a Juve jersey next term. So from a financial aspect, allowing their prolific striker to leave the club as a free agent next summer has pros and cons.
Clubs play waiting game
Obviously should an offer be tabled to sign Vlahovic in the winter transfer market then Juve will receive a healthy lump sum. The reality is that any savvy team will hold out until July to secure his signature as a freebie rather than splash the cash.
Both Manchester United and Newcastle Unihave made a terrible start to the Premier League campaign, lacking firepower, with Vlahovic firmly on their wanted list.
Yet he is unproven outside Italy, so signing him mid-season is a gamble. His physical presence, precision with the ball and prowess in the box are commodities that would surely boast any team.
It is rare to unearth a center forward who can regularly rattle in the goals, with many top attackers failing miserably in England. Vlahovic did himself no favors in attracting Premier League attention when a makeshift England side thrashed Serbia in Belgrade, because he was given very little service.
Vlahovic needs support at Juve
Vlahovic is a traditional no.9, but it is asking the impossible if he has to play as a sole target man and the team don’t hoof the ball towards him. Both Serbia and Juventus surely appreciate that he is only borderline world class, but if given support with a striker sitting off his shoulder could turn into a lethal marksman.
He is adamant about competing in one of Europe’s top five leagues throughout his career, and is currently at his peak.
It is an odd scenario at Juve under Tudor, who is inflexible about his tactical approach of utilizing just one center forward. There are four attackers for the manager to choose from with David, Arkadiusz Milik, Openda and Vlahovic at his disposal.
Tudor is trying to appease his squad by giving his favored players a run out if they do not start, which is fine for other positions except a striker.
Chiellini confirms Vlahovic stance
Giorgio Chiellini recently told DAZN Italia: “It is very easy, Vlahovic will be a Juventus player until June 30 2026, so what we are reading is surreal.
“Vlahovic is not moving, he is a Juventus player, and we hope he does well in these games. He is training well, has an excellent attitude and is showing that on the pitch.”
Vlahovic was given a token few minutes in place of David during the 2-2 Champions League battle against Villarreal in Spain on Wednesday. This rotation of forwards is going to get frustrating for the four attackers, who won't wish to keep being bit-part players.
The way things are going, with Tudor reeling off four stalemates on the spin and the defense remaining shaky, it could be the manager who exits Juventus before Vlahovic.