- Newcastle United have historic interest in Dusan Vlahovic
- Serbian striker set to leave Juventus for free this summer
- Vlahovic’s wage demands will be a massive problem for the Magpies
Newcastle United are braced for an important summer transfer window that could define Eddie Howe’s future at the club.
The Magpies got it horribly wrong in terms of recruitment last summer and stumbled to a 12th-place finish in the Premier League.
After an internal review, it was confirmed that Howe would remain head coach, but there is a general acceptance within the club that the 2025-26 season can’t be repeated.
Their strikers, in particular, fluffed their lines in front of goal last season until Will Osula came to the fore towards the back end.
And now, they have been presented with a glorious opportunity to sign Dusan Vlahovic after it was announced that he will leave Juventus for free.
Dusan Vlahovic set to become a free agent
The Serbian striker is a household name in Europe and is coming off a hot and cold season with the Bianconeri, where he struggled with injuries.
Vlahovic was set to extend his Juventus contract during the offseason, but it appears as if that isn’t the case anymore.
The Serbian striker reportedly wanted to stay, but Juventus sporting director Giorgio Chiellini has confirmed that his wage demands were too high for the club.
“I am very sad, he cared about Juve right up to the last minute,” confessed Chiellini to news agency AGI.
“He is a serious professional. With these figures, he won’t remain in Italy, so it is only fair and legitimate that he is seeking a different type of salary.”
Judging by Chiellini’s comments, Italian clubs won’t be able to afford his salary, so he is likely to move abroad, which could bode well for Newcastle United.
Vlahovic’s salary too steep for Newcastle United
Newcastle were linked with a move for Vlahovic as early as 2021, which is a clear sign of historic interest in the player.
He is now in his prime and is set to move abroad, with clubs across the continent keeping an eye on his situation.
In terms of his ability, Newcastle would take him in a heartbeat as he has all the attributes to lead the line for Howe.
According to Capology, the 26-year-old is the highest-paid player in Serie A, earning around €427,308-per-week in Turin.
Those numbers are obviously ridiculous and would blow the Magpies’ wage structure out of the water, so a move remains impractical at this stage unless he lowers his demands.
