There is no doubt that Liam Rosenior’s appointment as Chelsea manager has helped get the best out of Joao Pedro. But has he done enough to show Todd Boehly he can be the leading striker long-term?
Pedro was bought for £60m last summer, and while he showed glimpses of quality under Enzo Maresca, the Brazil international has vastly improved under the guidance of Rosenior during his nine matches.
Rosenior says he and Pedro have had many meetings, to the point where Pedro will have grown sick of the walls in Rosenior’s office. Clearly, it’s working. His brace against Napoli earned plenty of cash.
What deal are you doing? 🤔
Julian Alvarez for £87m OR Dusan Vlahovic on a free transfer?
Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez running and Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic warming up
Credit: Yagiz Gurtug/NurPhoto/Aitor Alcalde via Getty Images
Certainly, it helped pay for Pedro’s fee. Liam Delap is struggling for confidence, and Marc Guiu is likely to leave come the summer, with Emmanuel Emegha joining. But do Chelsea need a big-name striker?
Serbian fitness coach predicts Dusan Vlahovic’s next club
Over the years, Chelsea have always had a big, powerful no.9 with a massive pedigree. Didier Drogba, Diego Costa, Fernando Torres, Hernan Crespo, and many more. Perhaps Chelsea currently lack that.
While Pedro could become that, Dusan Vlahovic is one of Europe’s best strikers and certainly in Serie A, a household name. Reports say Chelsea have held talks over a possible move to land Vlahovic this summer.
Dusan Vlahovic of Juventus seen in action during the UEFA
Photo by Grzegorz Wajda/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
The £200k-a-week star will see his Juventus contract expire in the summer. So, Vlahovic will be a free agent as things stand, but according to ‘friend’ Dusan Ilic, Vlahovic will choose Barcelona come June.
“He’ll go to Barcelona for me. Before Juve, he’d spoken to Atlético Madrid, but he chose the Bianconeri. It was an offer he couldn’t refuse,” Serbia’s fitness coach Ilic said in an interview with Italian site Tuttosport.
Chelsea have wanted to sign Dusan Vlahovic for years
Two years ago, Chelsea were in intense talks to sign Vlahovic from Juventus, but nothing materialised. He has remained at Juventus ever since joining the Old Lady from Fiorentina for £67m back in January 2022.
Julian Alvarez, Dusan Vlahovic and Jean Philippe-Mateta could all be available in 2026. Who would you like to see Chelsea sign?
Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Marc Guiu did not convince at all in the 0-0 draw with Bournemouth
Julian Alvarez playing for Atletico Madrid
Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images
In the summer, Vlahovic has a decision to make. Labelled “extraordinary” by Alessio Tacchinardi (JuveFC), Europe’s biggest clubs will be licking their lips if Juve cannot convince the Serbia star to sign a new deal.
However, if his friend in Ilic is claiming Barcelona would be his choice, then Chelsea’s move for Vlahovic could hinge on whether Robert Lewandowski leaves the Nou Camp at the end of the current campaign.
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