Dusan Vlahovic injury setback strengthens Juventus in contract talks
Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic is set for a month on the sidelines with a calf injury, a development that significantly weakens his negotiating position as talks over a new contract with the club continue. The Serbian forward, whose current deal expires in 2026, now risks concluding the 2025/26 season with his worst career statistics since his emergence in Serie A, having already missed a significant period earlier in the campaign with a serious muscle issue.
Club director Marco Ottolini recently confirmed that discussions over an extension have been ongoing. According to reports from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus has tabled an offer for a short-term renewal until 2027 or 2028, with a proposed salary drastically reduced from his current €12 million per year to a figure in the region of €6-7 million including bonuses. Vlahovic's camp is understood to be seeking improved terms, with agent commissions and a signing-on bonus also points of contention.
The injury represents a severe blow to Vlahovic's personal strategy. He had returned for pre-season last summer in peak condition, aiming to earn a lucrative new deal in Turin or attract interest from Europe's elite clubs. With fellow Juventus forwards Jonathan David and Loïs Openda having struggled for consistency this term, Vlahovic hoped his performances could force the club's hand or spark a bidding war. Instead, a disappointing World Cup with Serbia and his injury troubles have curtailed that market.
Only tentative enquiries from Barcelona and AC Milan have been reported, with no concrete offers materializing. This lack of external options, combined with his compromised fitness, has handed the initiative to the Juventus board. The club is planning a major overhaul of its attack this summer and continues to be linked with moves for players like Robert Lewandowski and Randal Kolo Muani, applying further pressure on Vlahovic's situation.
Despite the strained circumstances, a departure is not considered inevitable. For Juventus, securing Vlahovic on reduced wages may represent a more cost-effective solution than a major new purchase, especially with Champions League qualification for next season still uncertain. The most likely outcome, as the season nears its end, remains the striker staying in Turin, but on terms far more favourable to the club than seemed possible just a few months ago.
