Newcastle United snub chance to sign ‘unhappy camper’ amid £1.3m bonus row

The transfer saga surrounding Dusan Vlahovic has taken another twist as Newcastle United become the latest club to distance themselves from the unsettled Juventus striker.

Currently competing in the FIFA Club World Cup as a peripheral figure, the Serbian international finds himself at the center of a contractual impasse that has left the Turin giants desperate to offload their asset before being forced into an expensive salary hike.

Vlahovic’s situation grows increasingly untenable by the day. With just twelve months remaining on his current deal, the 24-year-old stands to receive an automatic £1.3 million wage increase—taking his annual earnings from £8.8 million to £10.1 million.

This contractual clause has prompted Juventus’ hierarchy to aggressively market the striker, offering him to Premier League clubs at a reduced £38 million fee in hopes of avoiding both the pay rise and the prospect of losing him for nothing next summer.

Yet Newcastle have joined several top-flight rivals in showing little interest. The Magpies’ reluctance stems from multiple factors—not least Vlahovic’s staggering wage demands of £192,000 per week, which would shatter the club’s carefully structured pay scale.

While the transfer fee itself appears reasonable for a player of Vlahovic’s pedigree, the financial ramifications of such a signing could destabilize Newcastle’s wage hierarchy at a time when they’re working to extend key players like Bruno Guimarães and Alexander Isak.

The striker’s recent performances have done little to convince potential suitors. During Juventus’ 5-0 thrashing of Al Ain in the Club World Cup, Vlahovic managed just seven touches after coming on as a second-half substitute—hardly the shop window display the Serie A side had hoped for.

His visible frustration on the pitch mirrors broader concerns about his adaptability; once considered one of Europe’s most lethal finishers during his Fiorentina days, Vlahovic has struggled to replicate that form consistently in Turin.

Juventus sporting director Damien Comolli acknowledged the strained relationship this week, admitting: “Something certainly didn’t work this season.”

The club now faces an uncomfortable dilemma—renegotiate terms with a player they wish to sell or risk him seeing out his contract and departing for free in 2025.

For Newcastle, the decision to look elsewhere appears pragmatic. With Arsenal also abandoning their long-standing interest in favor of RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško, a clear pattern emerges:

Premier League clubs are wary of investing heavily in a striker whose confidence and output have dwindled since his €70 million move to Juventus in 2022.

While Vlahovic’s physical presence (6’2″) and past goal-scoring exploits might tempt some, Newcastle’s recruitment team seems focused on more reliable alternatives.

Their Champions League return demands signings who can deliver immediately—not reclamation projects requiring extensive rehabilitation.

As the summer window progresses, this early snub may prove a blessing in disguise, allowing the Magpies to allocate resources toward targets better suited to Eddie Howe’s high-intensity system.

For now, Vlahovic remains a talent in limbo—too expensive for most clubs to gamble on, yet too talented for Juventus to discard lightly.

As the contract standoff continues, one thing becomes clear: Newcastle’s refusal to engage demonstrates their growing sophistication in the transfer market, prioritizing squad harmony and financial sustainability over fleeting marquee signings.