In Focus: Vlahovic still has admirers despite tough Juve spell

The next few weeks could have a huge impact on Dusan Vlahovic's career.

Juventus have found form and are through to the Europa League semi-finals yet their Serbian forward has had a frustrating, injury-hit season.

Ahead of the first leg of Juve's tie against Sevilla, we turn the spotlight on the unsettled Vlahovic and examine his future options. 

Barren spell

Since moving to Turin from Fiorentina in January 2022, Vlahovic has scored 22 goals in 59 games — a decent strike rate but more was expected from the reported £66.6million outlay.

Juve's purchase was seen as a real coup, with the Serbian marksman much admired after netting 17 times in his first 21 Serie A outings in 2021-22.

Arsenal made an attempt to sign the Belgrade-born hotshot but he ultimately decided to stay in Italy and agree terms with the Old Lady.

This season started brightly with four goals in as many games. Then came an injury, prior to the World Cup. Despite fitness concerns, he was called up to the Qatar showpiece by his country.

Vlahovic found the net in a group game against Switzerland but returned to the Bianconeri with another injury that kept him out for most of January. 

He went 11 league matches without scoring between the start of February and early May, with Juve fans turning on their No9 who had looked completely shorn of confidence.

Pragmatic style

Vlahovic's barren spell came to an end when he scored against Lecce. He then found the net in Juve's next match against Atalanta. 

Now back among the goals, he will hope to make an impact in the remainder of the Europa League campaign, but even if Max Allegri's men lift the trophy, his future is far from certain. 

There have been reports that the Serie A giants are ready to cash in on their centre forward and that he too is willing to move on. 

From the start, it has not looked like a happy marriage, with Allegri's pragmatic style unlikely to get the best out of the striker. 

His former Fiorentina boss Cesare Prandelli has criticised his fellow Italian's methods.

Prandelli said: "I've always started from the assumption that when you have a striker with such scoring qualities, you have to look for him a lot. 

"If we look, there are a lot of passes before the ball gets to him. I've always thought that he must be valued. 

"I am sorry to say it, but the team-mates should give him more service and don't just make him do the dirty work. Others should do that and not the striker who has scoring skills." 

Transfer talk

Despite his unhappy spell at the Allianz Stadium, it would appear that Vlahovic still has plenty of admirers. 

Arsenal are reported to have retained their interest, with Aston Villa being another Premier League club to be linked with the striker. 

Real Madrid have also been suggested as a destination, with the Spanish giants looking for a long-term replacement for Karim Benzema. 

Such interest gives Juve a chance to get their money back and for the 21-cap international to earn a fresh start. 

Vlahovic is still only 23. His first big move may well end in failure but it would seem that another opportunity with a more suitable team is just around the corner.