Juventus are reportedly open to Chelsea signing Dusan Vlahovic if they can secure the services of Romelu Lukaku in part-exchange.
The once-dominant team in Italian football are facing a huge period of uncertainty on the back of punishments for financial irregularities.
A 10-point penalty initially led to Juventus only finishing in seventh position in Serie A last season, while a report over the weekend indicated that they are expected to be banned from European football for one season.
Although that is yet to be confirmed, it strengthens the need for Juventus to have everything financially in order ahead of a potential return to continental action in 2024-25.
Club officials are already in the process of streamlining the first-team squad, yet question marks remain over the future of Vlahovic who is said to be unsettled in Turin.
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If all add-ons are eventually activated, Vlahovic will cost Juventus an alleged €80m, but reports have indicated that the Serbia international would like to exit the club just 18 months after his arrival.
As it stands, it is unclear whether any club will give Juventus an opportunity to recoup the fee that they paid Fiorentina in January 2022, leaving club officials to contemplate getting creative.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus are open to putting together a proposal to support their own efforts to sign Lukaku from Chelsea.
The Premier League outfit have allegedly been provided with the chance to sign Vlahovic for just €25m (£21.4m) if they include Lukaku in the agreement.
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Despite seemingly being well stocked for options in the final third, Mauricio Pochettino and the Blues may welcome the alleged offer, particularly as a way of getting Lukaku off their outgoings.
That said, the Belgium international's affinity to Inter Milan, his former club and recent loan employers, will make any switch an outside bet unless Inter indicate that they can not meet Chelsea's own demands for the 30-year-old.
The Telegraph claims that the Champions League runners-up are preparing to put together a £35m bid for the forward, who is also happy to take a pay cut to facilitate another stint at San Siro.
Lukaku is said to be open to a transfer to Saudi Arabia, who have the financial power to put forward a more attractive offer to club and player, yet much will depend on how strong Inter push to keep a player who contributed 14 goals and seven assists in 2022-23.
Darren Plant
