Juventus ready to give Dusan Vlahovic the Federico Chiesa treatment unless striker accepts pay cut

Juventus and Dusan Vlahovic have reached a deadlock in negotiations over his contract renewal, and the club is now prepared to part ways with the Serbian striker, according to a report from La Repubblica (via Calciomercato). Vlahovic, currently the highest-paid player at the club with a €12 million net annual salary, may soon be playing in different colours if he decides to reject Juventus' request for a pay cut. The situation leaves his future at the club in serious doubt as the club seeks to reduce its wage bill.

Vlahovic’s situation at Juventus involves significant financial figures as he will be entering the final year of his contract at the end of the ongoing season. Purchased from Fiorentina in January 2022, for over €85 million (including bonuses), the Serbia international signed a 4.5-year deal with a growing salary, now at €12m net (approx. €23m gross, without growth decree benefits).

The Serie A giants have been desperate to reduce their wage bill in recent years and Vlahovic will have to accept a pay cut or risk being frozen out if he insists in maintaining his current salary.

Vlahovic's cirumstances are similar to that of Federico Chiesa, who was also among the club's top earners and was eventually shipped out to Liverpool in a cut-price deal after refusing to accept lower wages.

The former Fiorentina man's current salary, which exceeds the club's new cost-cutting plans, has created a standoff. Despite ongoing talks between Vlahovic's agent and Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli, no agreement has been reached on a renewal that would reduce his fixed salary, either through cuts, restructuring with bonuses, or spreading the overall package over a longer period.

According to La Repubblica, if Vlahovic refuses to accept a pay cut, he could be sidelined from Bianconeri's technical project, similar to the situation with Chiesa last summer. A January sale without a renewal now appears increasingly likely, with Juve prepared to sell him on a cut-price deal.

Vlahovic has scored 12 goals in 20 games in all competitions this season under new boss Thiago Motta. While he had a relatively quiet start to the season, where it seemed like he was finding it difficult to fit in Motta's tactics, the 24-year-old has improved his performances of late, scoring a goal in Juve's 4-0 victory over Cagliari in the Coppa Italia Round of 16 earlier this week. He will next be seen in action on Sunday, December 22, when Monza welcome Juve in Serie A.