Chelsea are targeting Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic as a ‘serious option’ to reinforce their attack under manager Xabi Alonso this summer.
The Serbian striker becomes a free agent following the expiration of his contract at Juventus last month, making him an attractive proposition for clubs across Europe.
Vlahovic first made his name in Italian football during his time at ACF Fiorentina before Juventus invested heavily to secure his signature.
Over his time in Turin, the 26-year-old accumulated an impressive record of 68 goals and 16 assists across 168 appearances for the club.
His best recent campaign came in 2024-25, when he registered 17 goals and five assists across all competitions for Juventus.
However, injuries disrupted his momentum significantly in the most recently concluded season, limiting him to just 12 goal involvements in total.
According to CaughtOffside, Chelsea have been exploring several centre-forward options this summer and have earmarked Vlahovic as a ‘serious option’ to bolster their attack.
Reports indicate Chelsea have already been in contact with the forward’s entourage, and the prospect of signing him on a free transfer is appealing to the club.
From a statistical standpoint, Vlahovic compares favourably to current Chelsea striker Liam Delap, who managed just one goal in 28 Premier League appearances during the 2025-26 season.
Vlahovic, by contrast, found the net seven times in 19 Serie A outings and posted a 14.3% conversion rate, significantly higher than Delap’s 2.8% return.
The Juventus departure also hit the target with 47.4% of his attempts during the season, compared to Delap’s 42.3%, underlining the difference in clinical finishing between the two strikers.
Beyond the numbers, the 6ft 3in centre-forward would offer Xabi Alonso greater top-flight experience and a more physically imposing presence inside the penalty area.
Chelsea are not limiting their search to Vlahovic alone, with the report naming Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, Brentford’s Igor Thiago, Inter Milan’s Francesco Pio Esposito, and Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen as alternatives under consideration.
Chelsea have utilised an incentive-based salary structure in recent transfer windows, raising questions about whether the club will meet the financial demands of a striker of Vlahovic’s calibre.
Reports suggest that a contractual dispute over salary contributed to the breakdown of his relationship with Juventus, meaning Chelsea will need to navigate those same concerns carefully in any negotiations.