Juventus have reportedly identified Napoli’s Victor Osimhen as their primary target to replace Dusan Vlahovic next summer, with the Nigerian striker seen as the perfect candidate to lead the club’s attack moving forward.
However, the Old Lady faces several challenges in negotiations with Napoli, as they will have to navigate some tough hurdles to land their target.
Vlahovic, who has just completed a three-year stint at Juventus, is unlikely to stay beyond the next six months.
His agents recently halted contract extension talks after learning that the club was unwilling to increase his wages.
With Vlahovic’s contract running until 2026, Juventus is expected to look to sell him in the summer to avoid losing the 25-year-old on a free transfer.
Osimhen, whose current deal with Napoli is set to expire in 2025, has emerged as Juventus’ top choice to replace Vlahovic, with La Gazzetta dello Sport reporting that Bianconeri sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is a big admirer of the striker.
Giuntoli, who previously signed Osimhen for Napoli in 2020, is keen to reunite with the lethal striker in Turin.
Juventus are reportedly hoping to use Giuntoli’s established relationship with Osimhen to persuade the forward to turn down interest from other clubs.
However, the challenge for Juventus lies in Napoli’s resistance to selling one of their key players, particularly to a Serie A rival.
Moreover, Osimhen’s €75m release clause only applies to foreign clubs, which adds another layer of difficulty for Juventus.
Despite this, the Bianconeri are confident that selling Vlahovic would generate funds to make an offer for Osimhen.
It is believed that Osimhen’s speed, strength, clinical finishing and experience in Serie A makes him an ideal fit for Juventus.
Eyes will be on Juventus if they can pull off this ambitious move and bring one of Serie A’s most exciting talents to the Allianz Stadium.
