The agent of Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic reportedly blocked a big-money transfer to a Premier League club, believed to be Manchester United, during the January transfer window.
The 23-year-old Serbia international has spent just over a year with the Italian giants following his £72m switch from fellow Serie A side Fiorentina.
Vlahovic has since scored 19 goals in 42 appearances for Juve across all competitions, including 10 strikes in 21 matches during an injury-hit 2022-23 campaign.
The striker will not see his contract in Turin expire until June 2026, but he is understood to be facing an uncertain future at Juve due to the club's financial concerns after they were deducted 15 points in Serie A following an investigation into their past transfer dealings.
Juve are at risk of failing to qualify for Europe altogether next season as they currently sit seventh in the Serie A table, nine points behind Atalanta BC in sixth and 12 points behind AC Milan and Roma in fourth and third place respectively.
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According to Spanish news outlet AS, Juventus accepted an offer between €100m (£88.8m) and €120m (£106.5m) for Vlahovic from an unnamed Premier League club, believed to be Man United.
Both parties are said to have been in advanced negotiations, but the report adds that the striker's agent brought talks to a halt and blocked the Serbian from completing a big-money move to England.
Man United were one of a number of top European clubs including the likes of Arsenal, Manchester City and Chelsea who were credited with an interest in Vlahovic before he completed his move to Juve in January 2022.
The Red Devils continue to be linked with the Belgrade-born striker, with Erik ten Hag expected to reinforce his forward line in the summer.
It remains to be seen whether United will opt to purchase Wout Weghorst at the end of his current loan spell from Burnley, while the long-term future of Anthony Martial is believed to be uncertain.
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The 20-time English top-flight champions could face stern competition for Vlahovic's signature, however, as Spanish giants Real Madrid 'remain attentive' to the striker's situation in Turin.
Carlo Ancelotti's side were unable to lure top target Kylian Mbappe to the Santiago Bernabeu last summer, but they are still thought to be prioritising the addition of a new centre-forward.
A potential summer swoop could depend on the future of 2022 Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema who is due to see his current contract expire at the end of the season.
While both Mbappe and Erling Braut Haaland are believed to be long-term targets for Real Madrid, Vlahovic has been identified as a potential alternative ahead of the 2023-24 campaign.
Real Madrid are also said to be keeping tabs on Tottenham Hotspur and Brazil forward Richarlison, while Napoli's Victor Osimhen has been linked with both Los Blancos and Man United in recent months.
Oliver Thomas
