TRANSFERS
Lukaku for Vlahovic? Chelsea and Juventus consider striker swap deal
Neither Romelu Lukaku nor Dusan Vlahovic have lived up to expectations since their big money moves. Would a simple swap benefit all involved?
Chelsea and Juventus are reportedly considering a sensational swap deal that would see Dusan Vlahovic arrive at Stamford Bridge and Romelu Lukaku head to Italy.
Sky Sports Italia reports that the two clubs are contemplating a deal after finding little interest in the market for either underperforming striker. Both Chelsea and Juventus have been open to offers for the forwards this summer but neither has managed to find a buyer.
Details of the proposed deal have not been made public, but it is thought that Juventus will demand a player-plus-cash deal given that Vlahovic is considerably younger.
Lukaku spent last season on loan with Inter Milan and he appears surplus to requirements under new Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino. Likewise after making an impressive start to life at Juventus, Vlahovic’s progress was curtailed by injuries for much of 2022/23.
Swap deals of this nature are increasingly rare in modern football, largely due to the added complications that arise when there are two players involved in the transaction. But with both Chelsea and Juventus looking to freshen up their forward line without breaking the bank, this could be a rare incident of a swap deal benefitting all parties.
What has happened to Lukaku and Vlahovic?
They may be on either sides of this prospective deal, but Lukaku and Vlahovic share one key similarity. Both have suffered a considerable fall from grace after so recently been ranked amongst the finest strikers in Europe.
In 2021 Lukaku returned to Chelsea after a prolific spell with Inter Milan. The Belgian forward was brought in for a then-club record fee of £97.5 million but he struggled to settle in a faltering Chelsea side and he quickly fell out of favour.
After just one season he was sent out on loan, back to former club Inter, where he failed to regain his goal-scoring touch.
Similarly, Vlahovic had the pick of Europe’s best clubs after scoring 41 goals across his last two seasons with Serie A side Fiorentina. In January 2022 he opted to move to Juventus on a deal worth up to €80 million.
He started well, scoring on his debut against Hellas Verona, but his first full season was beset by injury and the team struggled for form. From October 2022 onwards he scored just four league goals, calling his place in the Juventus team into question.
With a shortage of ‘Number 9′ options on the market this summer both clubs may have expected to find a suitor for their unwanted strikers fairly easily. However their hefty price tags and substantial wage demands appear to have priced the pair out of the market. As the end of the transfer window draws closer, a swap deal may become the best solution for all involved.