Juventus delay Vlahovic contract talks until end of season
Juventus sporting director Damien Comolli has confirmed that contract renewal talks with striker Dusan Vlahovic will be postponed until the end of the current campaign. Comolli stated that discussions led by director Marco Ottolini have taken place but that no developments are expected before the season concludes in approximately six weeks. The decision comes as the Serbian forward continues his recovery from a soleus muscle injury sustained during warm-ups ahead of the match against Genoa.
Vlahovic has been working diligently at the club's Continassa training complex, even on scheduled days off, aiming to return to availability for the upcoming fixture against Verona. His relationship with coach Luciano Spalletti, who has placed him at the center of the project, is cited as a key reason for the player's willingness to commit his future to the club. However, Juventus are now awaiting positive signals regarding his physical condition in the coming weeks before moving forward with formal negotiations.
According to the report, preliminary contacts have been maintained with the player's father and representative, Milos Vlahovic. The proposed new deal would be for a shorter term of one or two years and involve a significant reduction from his current annual salary of 12 million euros. The club is seeking to cut that figure by more than half, while also lowering associated agent fees and signing-on bonuses. From Juventus's perspective, renewing with Vlahovic remains a preferable financial option compared to entering the market for another high-profile striker.
The context for the club's cautious approach includes underwhelming performances from other attacking signings, referenced as David and Openda, which is expected to necessitate a major overhaul of the forward line this summer. Retaining Vlahovic at a reduced cost would allow greater resources to be allocated elsewhere in that restructure. For now, the focus for both parties is on the player's return to full fitness and contribution on the pitch, with his long-term contractual situation placed on hold until the summer.
