A setback for Juventus: Yildiz is out—here’s the latest on his condition. Now they need a striker at all costs; all eyes are on the transfer market
Juventus couldn’t have received worse news: Kenan Yildiz was injured in the match against Frosinone. The Turkish attacking midfielder suffered an injury to his left foot that forced him to undergo tests at J Medical in Turin: According to reports in *La Gazzetta dello Sport*, surgery cannot be ruled out.
Rumors suggest the Bianconeri forward will be sidelined for about two months, meaning he won’t be available to Luciano Spalletti until the end of October. This is a major blow that further complicates the situation for the Old Lady’s offense, which already showed its weaknesses during the match against Frosinone. At the end of the match, Spalletti had reprimanded Kolo Muani for squandering chances and had publicly called for a striker—a signing that is now inevitable following Kenan Yildiz’s injury
The Turkish player will be replaced in upcoming matches by Jeremie Boga and Kerim Alajbegovic, but now more than ever, Juventus needs to make a signing up front, and the two likely candidates remain Joshua Zirkzee and Alexander Sorloth.
The key to making a move in the attack remains the sale of Jonathan David: The Canadian, who arrived on a free transfer from Lille last season and fell short of expectations with just 7 goals in 39 appearances, has already turned down offers from Hull City, Rennes, and Lens, waiting for a more attractive offer that has yet to materialize. His salary of 6 million euros net per season weighs heavily on the club’s finances, as the team did not compete in the Champions League last year and is therefore forced to operate with great caution.
As for Zirkzee, the situation is clear: the Dutch forward from Manchester United, after a disappointing two-year stint in the Premier League with just nine goals and four assists, has already let his entourage know that he is open to a move to Juventus and would like to return to Serie A to revive his career. However, an agreement on the terms still needs to be reached: United is pushing for a mandatory buyout clause, while Juventus would prefer a loan with an option to buy. As a viable alternative, the name of Atlético Madrid’s Alexander Sorloth—currently sidelined with a muscle injury—remains on the list.
Further complicating the picture of outgoing players is the situation involving Nico Gonzalez: The Argentine, fresh off a successful loan spell at Atlético Madrid, has made it clear he does not want to stay in Turin but has rejected advances from Beşiktaş, awaiting an offer from the Colchoneros—who, however, are deliberately stalling until the final days of the transfer window to secure the best possible terms from Juventus. With Yildiz’s injury, it’s not out of the question that the player might stay in Turin.
