Tottenham Hotspur’s hopes of landing Dušan Vlahović could face a fresh hurdle, with Chelsea reportedly emerging as genuine rivals for the striker following his exit from Juventus as a free agent.
Spurs have been linked with the Serbian frontman for months, with reports suggesting the north London club saw him as a smart market opportunity once Juventus failed to agree fresh terms. Unable to meet his wage demands, the Italian club look set to lose him for nothing, opening the door for several clubs across Europe to move for one of the summer’s most sought-after available forwards.
While talk of Tottenham’s interest has quietened in recent weeks, Chelsea are said to be ramping up their pursuit of the 26-year-old. Reports suggest the Blues have earmarked him as a serious option in their search for a new number nine ahead of next season, with sources close to his camp said to view landing a striker of his calibre on a free as excellent business. As Chelsea continue weighing up other attacking targets around Europe, the financial upside of signing an experienced goalscorer without a transfer fee has made Vlahović increasingly appealing.
Tottenham’s priorities, meanwhile, appear to have shifted. De Zerbi is understood to favour bringing in players with a proven Premier League track record, a theme that’s run through Spurs’ business all summer. That approach is said to have made Bournemouth’s Eli Junior Kroupi the club’s top attacking target following his impressive breakout season, with reports suggesting Spurs are readying an opening bid to gauge Bournemouth’s resolve over the French teenager.
With Chelsea stepping up their chase for Vlahović and Tottenham’s focus largely on Kroupi, the battle for the Serbian striker looks to be reaching a critical stage. Should Spurs still want to bring him to north London, they may need to act fast before a rival gets there first — otherwise De Zerbi risks watching another notable target slip away as he continues rebuilding his squad for the new campaign.
