Chelsea and Juventus are working to execute a swap deal that would see Romelu Lukaku and Dusan Vlahovic heading in opposite directions. The Belgian international has already agreed to a three-year deal with the Serie A giants with an option for an additional year. Chelsea want to bolster their attacking options and view Vlahovic as a valuable asset. The Blues, however, aren't ready to pay the €50 million (£43m/$54.60m) asking price. It is also understood, however, that Juventus are willing to negotiate and could settle for €40m (£34.5m/$43.69m) as they are eager to finalize the deal.

Juventus also want to balance their books and want to squeeze as much as they can from their Premier League counterparts. Manager Massimiliano Allegri admitted that if the swap deal goes through, it will be due to the club's financial needs. Lukaku spent last season on loan with Inter Milan and was willing to sign for the Italian powerhouse on a permanent basis but Inter Milan were unwilling to pay the asking price demanded from them by Chelsea. The Blues are eager to cash in on the Belgian talisman after parting with £ 97.5 million in 2021 for his services in a transfer deal that is largely seen to have flopped. 
 

As things stand right now, Juventus can only pursue a season's loan deal with an option to buy which is unlikely to entice Chelsea. New Chelsea's manager, Mauricio Pochettino is considered to be critical in the decision-making process as he considers Dusan Vlahovic's services as useful and essential at the Stamford Bridge. Romelu Lukaku rejected advances from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal earlier during the beginning of the current transfer window despite the Blues hoping to flog the forward in order to free up his wages. Al Hilal were offering the former Manchester United player £15.8m-per-year and even had a sit-down with Lukaku in a Paris hotel but he was unwilling to take the deal as he was reluctant to leave Europe. 

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(Image: Chelsea News)