Chelsea lead race to sign €82m star – Fabrizio Romano

Robin Bairner

• 4 Aug 2023 06:44 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea remain in pole position to sign Juventus attacker Dusan Vlahovic, though no deal is expected to be quick for the Serbia attacker, according to Fabrizio Romano.

Vlahovic would join the Blues as part of a swap deal that would see Romelu Lukaku head to Juve and €40 million come the way of the London club in what would be a remarkable transfer.

Lukaku is known to be outside of the thinking at Stamford Bridge after flopping since returning to the club for what was a record fee in 2021, then continuing his difficult form at Inter Milan on loan last season.

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Football transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano says that all that is standing in the way of the deal is the green light from new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino, with the Belgium international having agreed personal terms with Juventus.

The Blues rejected a similar offer to this last month, Romano reports, but Juventus have come back in to see if there is any further possibility of negotiations, using their €82 million signing as leverage.

It appears that there is, largely because Lukaku is proving so hard to move on. He has rejected a move to the Saudi Pro League while interest from Inter has waned, with the Nerazzurri accusing the striker of a betrayal for negotiating with Juventus behind their backs.

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Chelsea’s Lukaku options

Chelsea are now left with two options regarding Vlahovic, Romano says. They can either be patient to see if another offer for the striker arrives or they can accept Juventus’ bid.

Pochettino will be key to this process and will make a decision over the weekend, with negotiations over Vlahovic potentially starting more formally next week.

Certainly, the prospects of a hijack on this move are slim, with other suitors for Vlahovic having distanced themselves from the player. Romano, for example, says it is “very cold” between PSG and the Serbia star, giving Chelsea what appears to be a free path to a swap deal.