Juventus have Vlahovic ‘big problem’ and Douglas Luiz sale ‘a mistake’ | OneFootball

Juventus have a ‘big problem’ in the form of Dusan Vlahovic, warns Alfredo Pedullà to The Italian Football Podcast, but selling Douglas Luiz to Nottingham Forest would be ‘a mistake.’

The Football Italia transfer expert sat down with The Italian Football Podcast to discuss the current stories in the headlines, with many of them around the strategy at Juventus.

Their most notable issue is being stuck with Vlahovic, whose contract with €12m per season wages is set to expire at the end of the current campaign.

They cannot lose him as a free agent, but also are struggling to find anyone willing to buy the striker with the baggage of that salary.

Vlahovic ‘a big problem’ for Juventus

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – JUNE 26: Dusan Vlahovic #9 of Juventus FC during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group G match between Juventus FC and Manchester City FC at Camping World Stadium on June 26, 2025 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

“Dusan Vlahovic is a big problem. He is a big problem. It is a problem for Juve, not for Vlahovic,” noted Pedullà.

“Vlahovic earns €1m at the end of every month. So there are no problems for Vlahovic, because he is on huge wages. The only problem for Vlahovic is that it is a World Cup year, so he can’t wait too long, because if he doesn’t play, he is the one who will suffer from it.”

The favourites for Vlahovic have so far been Milan, as he would reunite with coach Max Allegri, but they are looking at other alternatives too.

“Let me tell you something. Milan are tracking two or three strikers. If it were up to Allegri, they would sign Vlahovic and not Rasmus Hojlund. Then maybe Hojlund arrives, but for them Vlahovic is more of a priority in terms of importance. Because Vlahovic is a better player than Hojlund. Vlahovic can guarantee you 15-18 goals. Hojlund is a question mark, I don’t know.

“For Juve who want to bring back Kolo Muani this week, they could find themselves with three attackers: Jonathan David, Dusan Vlahovic and Randal Kolo Muani. But I think that we have to pay attention to Vlahovic until the end of the window.

“Because Juventus don’t want to be taken to the cleaners, and Vlahovic, who earns a lot, thinks about the fact that being the third striker at Juventus, where he wouldn’t play a lot during a World Cup year, won’t be a very nice thing. Because strikers need to play, they need to score.

“It also depends a lot on what Juventus wants, which I think can’t be even €25m. They can ask €16m plus add-ons. And if Milan are ok with this sum, then I think it’s all to play for, without forgetting Hojlund. Because Hojlund is also on Milan’s list.”

Meanwhile, Juventus are all set to sell Douglas Luiz to Nottingham Forest, hoping to finalise the details this evening.

“Douglas Luiz is very close to being sold,” added Pedullà.

“Nottingham Forest, who have started the Premier League well with Dan Ndoye, and who want to sign more players. They thought about Musa, now they are thinking about Douglas with an offer of €35-38m on a permanent basis, which is what Juventus wants. Because Juventus don’t want to make a capital loss.

“They made a €50m investment last year in order to sign him from Aston Villa. Not €50m cash because they included Barrenechea and Iliing Junior in the deal. They spent around €20m, but the investment was €50m.”

MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – JULY 01: Douglas Luiz #26 of Juventus FC arrives at the stadium prior to the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 round of 16 match between Real Madrid CF and Juventus FC at Hard Rock Stadium on July 01, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Juventus have been eager to get the former Aston Villa player off their books after a flop opening campaign, but could they be taking a big risk selling so soon?

“I think there is a good possibility that Douglas Luiz likes it. If you ask my opinion, this is a mistake. I would have given another chance to Douglas Luiz, because if you sell Douglas Luiz and for example sign Matt O’Riley, for me Douglas Luiz is a better player than O’Riley.

“O´Riley is a good player, but Douglas Luiz, if he plays with the confidence and belief in him, he will play very well. In Italy we haven’t seen him play 4-5 matches in a row, not even 3. If he plays 2-3 matches in a row and you show confidence in him, for me he can demonstrate his level.”

Pedullà also warns that Atletico Madrid want Nico Gonzalez, after which Juventus could try to reinvest in Edon Zhegrova of Lille, but face competition from Olympique Marseille.