6 days ago
33
Newcastle has been presented with an opportunity to solve its striker dilemma by signing Dusan Vlahovic from Juventus... and that could be good news for Liverpool.
However, the Italian team is demanding a trade: it wants Newcastle's star midfielder Sandro Tonali in return. The Magpies are on the hunt for a new forward after Alexander Isak informed the St. James' Park hierarchy of his desire to depart ahead of the club's preseason tour.
Just last week, Newcastle turned down a staggering £120 million ($148 million) offer from Liverpool, but the Premier League champion is anticipated to make another bid for the Swedish striker.
Benjamin Sesko was pinpointed as the perfect replacement, but he has rejected Newcastle in favor of a transfer to Manchester United.
This has forced the Magpies to look further down their shortlist, with Chelsea's Nicolas Jackson believed to be a serious target for manager Eddie Howe.
Now, however, Vlahovic has emerged as a potential solution. Gazzaetta dello Sport reports that Newcastle has been given the chance to sign the Serbian via intermediaries - but there's a significant caveat.
Juventus has set its sights on signing Tonali, with manager Igor Tudor and club chief Giorgio Chiellini both agreeing that he is the ideal candidate to address their midfield woes.
The issue is that Newcastle view the 25-year-old, who is content in the north east, as non-negotiable, leading Juve to propose an audacious deal.
In a proposed swap deal for Tonali, the Italian team is said to be offering a cash sum plus Vlahovic and either midfielder Douglas Luiz or right-back Nicolo Savona.
However, given the improbability of Newcastle accepting such an audacious offer, Juventus has reportedly lined up several alternatives, with both Luiz and Vlahovic on the transfer list.
Sporting Lisbon's Dane Morten Hjulmand, Matt O'Riley from Brighton, Al-Ahli's Franck Kessie, Sofyan Amrabat of Fenerbahce, and Roma's Bryan Cristante have all been identified as potential replacements. Newcastle would also need to evaluate whether 25-year-old Vlahovic would be an adequate replacement for Isak.
Vlahovic has failed to score 20 goals in any of his three full seasons at Juventus, having joined the club from Fiorentina in January 2022. He scored just 10 goals in Serie A last season.
The Serbian international has been linked with a move to AC Milan, currently managed by former Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri. Vlahovic certainly has the physicality to fill Isak's boots, but even with the addition of Luiz or Savona, letting Tonali go would be a significant risk.
Newcastle won't be strapped for cash if Isak departs, demanding a record-breaking British fee. Juventus may need to think outside the box if they hope to lure Tonali back to Italy.
English (US) ·