27 June 2023 , 10:18
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Chelsea are interested in sending Romelu Lukaku to Juventus in a part-exchange deal for former Arsenal target Dusan Vlahovic.
The Blues are currently in the midst of a dramatic rebuild at Stamford Bridge with a host of players set to leave the club. N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have already sealed moves to Saudi Arabia.
Misfiring striker Lukaku could have joined them in moving to the Gulf state following a loan spell with Inter Milan but he rejected the chance to move. Chelsea are still keen to move their former record signing on though and Juventus could emerge as an option.
According to The Telegraph, the Blues are interested in signing Serbian striker Vlahovic and could send Lukaku to Turin in part-exchange. Both strikers endured difficult seasons in Italy last term.
The on-loan Chelsea man scored just 14 goals in all competitions during his return to the San Siro, with the Juventus star matching that total. It represents a huge down-turn in form that saw the Italian giants splash £66m to sign Vlahovic from Fiorentina 18 months ago and beat Arsenal to his services.
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Former AC Milan and Real Madrid striker Antonio Cassano has criticised Vlahovic for choosing to sign for Juventus. Speaking to Bobo TV, he said: "In my opinion [Vlahovic's decision] is sensationally wrong. For the type of player, I think he is he needed to make an intermediate step to a team like Arsenal, Tottenham, or Sevilla, who signed [Anthony] Martial. For me, you know, he has always been a second-tier player.
Chelsea could send Romelu Lukaku to Juventus in exchange for Dusan Vlahovic (Getty Images)Would Dusan Vlahovic be a good signing for Chelsea? Share your thoughts in the comments below
"This is a huge step for him, playing with Fiorentina is another thing. For him, it is a very important step, but above all it's risky. For Juve, it is not enough to do what you did at Fiorentina.
"It's not enough to score 15 goals, 20 goals. At Juve, every match must be decisive. It's a dangerous weight on him. He had to take the next step, but not two steps, at Juve you have to score at least 30 goals per season and you have to take home the performances and titles.
"I don't see him as a player for Juve. He is a Serbian, a particular character, I don't see him fitting in well with Juve's dressing room, that's the opinion I have."
Vlahovic still has three years left to run on his contract at the Allianz Stadium, whilst Lukaku also does not see his contract with Chelsea expire until the summer of 2026. Amid Cassano’s claim, Vlahovic has insisted that he made the right decision to sign for Juventus.
He said: "I just had one club in my mind because Juventus is Juventus. There is nothing else to say. And now I feel honoured to be given this jersey. It’s incredible every time I put it on.
“I definitely identify with their DNA. The Juventus personality coincides with my personality. When you come here you never give up, you fight all the time, you make the sacrifices. This was definitely what I was looking for.”