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Hancko, Tonali & Osimhen are Juventus dreams

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1 year ago

February 10, 2025

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The winter transfer market has just closed, but for Juventus, the work has only just begun. After a flurry of activity that saw the arrivals of Alberto Costa, Kelly, Veiga, and Kolo Muani. Alongside the departures of Danilo, Arthur, and Fagioli it’s time to shift focus toward the summer window.

Following a significant overhaul of the squad in the transition from 2024 into 2025. Where Juventus welcomed 13 new players and offloaded 14, sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli now aims to strengthen the team with high-quality signings, ideally one for each position.

The club is already building a young and sustainable foundation. With an average squad age of 25.3 years and a salary cap reduction of over 30% in just two years.

Hancko for the defense, Tonali for the midfield

On the defensive front, significant changes are expected. Andrea Cambiaso, the young full-back, is likely to see an offer from Manchester City. But Juventus is planning to delay this move until the summer.

In addition, the club is making a strong push for David Hancko. A versatile left-footed defender from Feyenoord who can play both as a full-back and a central defender. Giuntoli has already set aside a budget of €25-30 million, plus potential bonuses, to secure Hancko’s services.

This acquisition could be finalized during the pre-World Cup window (June 1-10), before the competition kicks off. Additionally, Juventus is working on finalizing Pierre Kalulu‘s permanent move from Milan, with a fee of €14 million expected.

The midfield dream is Sandro Tonali

In midfield, Giuntoli’s biggest ambition is to bring Sandro Tonali to Turin. The club made substantial investments in the central midfield last summer, spending over €120 million to sign Thuram, Koopmeiners, and Douglas Luiz.

However, the Brazilian midfielder has yet to live up to expectations, despite his impressive performances with Aston Villa in the Premier League. There have even been discussions about him potentially returning to England on loan during this winter transfer window.

If there are no changes by June, Juventus might use Douglas Luiz as part of a deal to bring Tonali from Newcastle. Although they would likely need to provide additional cash, given that Tonali’s value is higher, despite similar market evaluations (around €40 million for both players).

The search for the striker

One of the club’s most pressing needs is to strengthen the attack. With Dusan Vlahovic’s contract set to expire in 2026 and his salary set to increase to €12 million next season. Juventus is bracing for his departure unless a drastic wage reduction is agreed upon.

Giuntoli’s dream is to reunite with Victor Osimhen, a player he brought to Napoli in 2020. Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray but remains under contract with Napoli until 2026, with the possibility of extending it until 2027. His release clause, ranging from €75-80 million, is only valid for foreign clubs, making negotiations difficult for Juventus.

A transfer would require a complex and challenging negotiation with Napoli’s president, Aurelio De Laurentiis. Moreover, Juventus is also considering the permanent acquisition of Francisco Conceiçao from Porto, with talks underway to reduce the €30 million release clause.

In summary, while the winter transfer market has ended, Juventus’ work is far from over. As Giuntoli continues to plan for a competitive and well-balanced team in the upcoming seasons reports La Gazzetta dello Sport.