Barcelona seems to have found a name on the market that fits perfectly with its current financial and sporting situation. Dusan Vlahovic, the Serbian forward from Juventus, has emerged as a rare opportunity: young, high-level, and with a contract set to expire soon.
At 25, the striker could arrive for free in 2025, a scenario that fits like a glove for Barça, a club still trying to balance its books while searching for a successor to Robert Lewandowski. According to the Italian newspaper Tuttosport, Deco, the Catalan club’s sporting director, has already been in contact with the player’s representatives since August.
Vlahovic enters the radar of a rebuilding Barça
Vlahovic’s name appeals for several reasons. First, he’s a center forward with physical strength but also technical ability, even though his performances at Juventus have dipped. Second, the signing could be made without a transfer fee, crucial for a board still dealing with the weight of “financial fair play” and the restrictions imposed by La Liga. The plan is to take advantage of his contract’s expiration with Juventus in June 2025 and start talks for a free transfer early next year.
The timing helps. Juventus, which hesitated to renew with the Serbian last season, now risks losing him for free. Vlahovic, on the other hand, sees Barcelona as a chance to start over. After a period of ups and downs in Turin, the forward is trying to regain the form that once placed him among Europe’s most promising scorers. This season, he has four goals and one assist in eight matches, modest numbers, but an improvement compared to his previous campaign.
The shadow of Lewandowski and the urgency of renewal
Vlahovic’s possible arrival is also tied to Robert Lewandowski’s situation. The Polish striker, who will turn 37 next year, remains a reference point, but Barcelona knows it needs to plan the transition carefully and the Serbian’s name fits that process perfectly. He’d have time to adapt, share minutes with the veteran, and gradually take over the No.9 role.
It’s no coincidence that Deco has intensified his inquiries since August. The club understands that, to compete in the Champions League and remain among Europe’s elite, it needs more firepower. Vlahovic, even without the media pull of Haaland or Julián Álvarez, represents a more realistic alternative. His arrival would only cost salary and agent fees, far less than the massive investments those other stars would demand.