Juventus Transfer Market: What a Mess! The Forward Refuses to Be Traded and Puts the Bianconeri in a Bind

Since Juventus failed to qualify for the Champions League last year, the club is forced to take a very cautious approach to the transfer market. So far, the club has signed Randal Kolo Muani, Jhon Lucumì, Kerim Alajbegovic, and Jeff Ekhator, and has exercised the buyout clauses for Loïs Openda and Jérémie Boga. Total spending has exceeded 150 million euros (which could have been even higher if Zeki Çelik hadn’t arrived on a free transfer).

The need to sell is obvious, but the Bianconeri are encountering some difficulties and have so far managed to raise just 23 million euros from the sales of Timothy Weah, Facundo González, Loïs Openda (paid loan), João Mário (paid loan), and Vasilije Adžić (paid loan).

Among the main candidates to leave Turin is Nico González, but the Argentine’s departure is proving more complicated than expected. The star, fresh off a successful loan spell at Atlético Madrid, has long made it clear to Juventus management that he has no intention of staying due to his lack of rapport with the club’s environment. It’s a shame for Luciano Spalletti: the Certaldo-born coach would have liked to work with him but has now resigned himself to losing him.

Beşiktaş has stepped forward to sign him, but the former Fiorentina player responded with a flat “no”—he wants to wait for Atlético Madrid. The Colchoneros, confident in this development, are biding their time and want to wait until the final days of the transfer window to secure the best possible terms from Juventus.

Juventus will then have to resolve the Jonathan David situation, as he has also turned down Hull City in recent days. The Canadian striker, who did not shine at all last season, had already been contacted by Rennes and Lens but turned them both down, hoping for a more substantial offer—which, at least so far, has not materialized.

Once David is sold, Juventus would pounce on Joshua Zirzkee, a long-time Bianconeri target who is currently out of favor at Manchester United. The Dutch center forward, who spent the entire 90 minutes on the bench against Hull City as well, left a great impression in Italy while playing for Bologna and would like to return to Serie A to relaunch his career.