Juventus Transfer Market: A Significant Upgrade in Midfield, Talks with Milan

It’s not just about the attack or the defense—Juventus is aiming to bring in at least one top-tier reinforcement for the midfield. Although the position is already crowded, Luciano Spalletti has requested another key player in that area of the field: two names are at the top of the list of candidates.

The first is Franck Kessié, a midfielder born in 1996 who played in the last World Cup for the Ivory Coast national team. A former player for Atalanta, Milan, and Barcelona, Kessié has played in Saudi Arabia in recent years but is now a free agent and looking to return to Italy. He has already reached a preliminary agreement on a contract with the Bianconeri, who are taking their time. Spalletti is fully convinced by the Ivorian’s profile, appreciating his international experience and charisma. Sporting director Frederic Massara is playing a key role in the negotiations, having built a solid relationship with the player’s agents during their time together at Milan.

The other name to surface in recent days is that of Youssouf Fofana, a midfielder who was just dropped by Milan’s new coach, Ruben Amorim. According to rumors, Juventus has contacted the Rossoneri to explore a possible transfer deal: for now, the Bianconeri have not gone beyond making an initial inquiry, while intermediaries are in talks to find a possible arrangement for the transfer to Turin.

Juventus needs to offload three surplus midfielders: Koopmeiners, Miretti, and Arthur. The latter two could end up in Turkey, while the Dutchman has offers from the Premier League; the Old Lady hopes to resolve the situation as soon as possible. Vincenzo Italiano’s Besiktas remains the most likely destination for Arthur, as the Sicilian coach has already worked with him during his loan stint at Fiorentina. Offloading his contract, which expires in 2027, remains a top priority for the Bianconeri management as part of their financial restructuring plan.