Only Yildiz Untouchable; Attack Under Construction
More of a restructuring than a revolution. Juventus needs to rebuild its attack, and the arrival of Jonathan David is just the first piece, joining Kenan Yildiz, the only untouchable player in the entire squad. Apart from the Turk, the future of all other attackers is uncertain, which is why the 2000-born player arriving from Lille (on a free transfer) begins to give the department a new shape. Igor Tudor`s plan has given the Juventus attack a new look, starting precisely with Yildiz`s position: with Thiago Motta, the #10 played as a left winger, while in the new tactical setup, he is more of a second striker operating centrally.
Tactical Fit
Yildiz at the center of Juve`s plans opens up two possibilities: a double attacking midfielder setup supporting a central striker (like Conceiçao at the World Cup) or a double striker partnership with the Turk in a finishing role. The latter scenario would be key to looking beyond David`s arrival. With Yildiz behind the strikers, David`s characteristics would pair well with Kolo Muani. However, Kolo Muani currently has no certainty of staying in Turin as he wishes, because PSG is willing to renew the loan only with a guarantee that he will be bought next summer. Juve is reflecting and taking time for two main reasons: they don`t want to get into a bidding war for Kolo Muani, who is also targeted by Chelsea, and they currently lack the budget for his wages unless Vlahovic quickly finds an agreement for his transfer.
Situation
It`s not just Vlahovic; Juve also wants to offload Milik. Although he recently renewed with a reduced wage, the Pole`s presence in the squad no longer makes sense for the future, and being sidelined in Miami (during the match against Real Madrid) is the latest sign of distrust. Then there`s Conceiçao`s position to clarify. Juve wants to keep him in Turin only if Porto agrees to a discount, allowing them to recoup some of the 9 million paid for this year`s loan. Currently, there`s no openness to a discount, and the situation is complicated by the activation of a 45 million euro clause (Juve could buy him for 30 million) which is already being studied by some Premier League clubs. Meanwhile, the player is ready to openly side with Juve only if he is guaranteed a starting spot. The feeling with Tudor has improved, but he doesn`t appear untouchable. This is why Juve might soon push forward with another well-progressed negotiation for the attack: Sancho from Manchester United.
Italian Targets
Two other Italian targets remain active: Osimhen and Retegui. The former has a clause for foreign clubs expiring on July 15th. Napoli wants to keep the price high and not sell him to Juve, but the player has already refused Saudi Arabia and put Galatasaray on hold because he wants to return to Serie A and wear the black and white jersey. Juve would be in a position to make a significant investment with savings from some sales; among the players potentially leaving is Nico Gonzalez, whom Comolli has already offered to various clubs in England and France. Retegui is the Plan B that would potentially increase the Italian core of the Juventus dressing room, but there is competition. Meanwhile, Gyokeres` price has dropped significantly, and he is taking small steps closer to an agreement with Arsenal.
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