Chelsea approved to sign 136-goal striker as Xabi Alonso steps in | Football | Sport

Chelsea could be poised to fulfil Xabi Alonso‘s desire to strengthen their striking options with the signing of Dusan Vlahovic. The Juventus frontman is expected to leave the Serie A club this summer as a free agent after negotiations over a new contract broke down, according to Sky Sports Italy.

Reports in Italy also suggest Alonso, who is gearing up for his maiden campaign in charge at Stamford Bridge, has identified the striker as a priority given the Blues’ shortage in that position. Their inability to provide sufficient threat in attack was amongst the factors behind their dismal 10th-place finish in the Premier League this term.

While Joao Pedro enjoyed a commendable debut campaign with 20 goals across all competitions, Liam Delap and Marc Guiu managed just four goals between them in 54 appearances.

With Emmanuel Emegha expected to join the west London outfit this summer from Strasbourg, restructuring Chelsea‘s striking department appears to be a key priority for the former Real Madrid manager.

Vlahovic hasn’t exactly caught fire since his £66million switch to Juventus in 2022. However, he’s still notched 68 goals in 168 matches for the Turin outfit.

At 26, it is reasonable to suggest his peak years lie ahead of him. Another element of the deal that enhances its appeal for the Blues is that they will not be required to pay a transfer fee for the incoming free agent, a devastating setback for Juve considering their substantial outlay on him.

Not needing to allocate a significant sum for the Serbia international, who has netted 136 career goals for club and country, means Alonso will have the flexibility to channel resources towards strengthening other areas of the squad.

The Athletic reports that the Spaniard is on the verge of finalising his first signing as Blues boss, with Atalanta wing-back Marco Palestra close to agreeing terms to join Chelsea.

The Premier League evolved into a more robust competition this season with greater emphasis placed on set-pieces, which would suit Vlahovic’s attributes as a mobile target man.

His 6’3″ stature means he will pose a considerable threat, and his capacity to pivot and run at defenders, combined with his instinct for a clinical finish, could provide Alonso with the archetypal striker for the modern Premier League.