Juventus – Lucumì, Major Update 

Despite Nottingham Forest entering the race and exploratory interest from Premier League giants such as Chelsea and Manchester United, Jhon Lucumì has not changed his mind: Juventus remains his preferred destination.

According to Nicolò Schira, the Colombian defender has made his intentions clear and continues to prioritize a move to Turin.

The opportunity to join Juventus strongly appeals to the 28-year-old, who is looking to take the next major step in his career by joining a top European club.

Lucumì is settled in Italy and has been particularly impressed by the determination shown by Juventus during their pursuit of him. As a result, the Bianconeri have climbed to the top of his personal list of preferred destinations.

His representatives have been in contact for several days with Juventus figures Giovanni Carnevali, Ricky Massara and Marco Ottolini, with negotiations continuing behind the scenes.

That explains why Massara and Ottolini’s presence at Milan’s Hotel Gallia recently attracted attention. The Juventus executives were involved in several transfer meetings, including discussions surrounding Lucumì.

Juventus Push Ahead as Lucumì Makes His Choice

From a contractual perspective, Juventus have already made significant progress. A preliminary agreement is reportedly in place for a five-year contract worth around €2.5 million per season plus bonuses.

Nottingham Forest could offer Lucumì around €1 million more in net salary, making their proposal financially more attractive. However, money is not the only factor influencing the defender’s decision.

For Lucumì, Juventus offers greater prestige, the opportunity to compete in European competitions and, importantly, the chance to continue playing in Serie A.

Italy has become an ideal environment for the Colombian, where he believes he can continue developing and establish himself among Europe’s leading defenders.

His reputation grew considerably following the most recent World Cup. One of his standout performances came against Cristiano Ronaldo, whom Lucumì effectively neutralized with an outstanding defensive display.

Those performances have also caught the attention of Luciano Spalletti, who has reportedly pushed strongly for Juventus to bring the Bologna centre-back to Turin.

The Juventus coach considers Lucumì an important addition to strengthen his defensive options, and contacts with Bologna have already begun.

Bologna Want €25m as Juventus Prepare Another Offer

Bologna president Joey Saputo is currently demanding at least €25 million for the Colombian defender.

The club’s position is understandable given Lucumì’s importance to the team, but there is an important issue for the Rossoblù: his contract expires in just ten months.

His previous €28 million release clause expired on July 15, meaning Bologna can no longer rely on that mechanism. The club therefore risks losing one of its defensive leaders for nothing next summer if an agreement cannot be reached.

That situation could ultimately limit Bologna’s negotiating power. Just one year ago, the club rejected a €23 million offer plus bonuses from Sunderland for Lucumì, but his current contractual situation makes a similar valuation more difficult to justify.

Juventus, meanwhile, are hoping to complete the deal for a lower figure. Their opening proposal was reportedly worth €17 million, but Bologna immediately rejected it and asked for a higher fee.

Bologna could attempt to create an international bidding war, with technical director Giovanni Sartori and sporting director Marco Di Vaio aware of the growing interest in their defensive leader.

For now, however, Lucumì has rejected the options from Turkey, including Galatasaray and Besiktas, despite the presence of his former mentor Vincenzo Italiano. The Premier League remains an alternative, but only behind Juventus in his current preferences.

That is why there is growing but cautious optimism within the Juventus camp. The Lucumì-Juventus talks are entering a decisive phase, and the Bianconeri hierarchy is preparing another push to get the deal over the line.

One possibility being considered is the inclusion of Colombian defender Juan Cabal as part of the operation, potentially helping Juventus reduce the cash component of the transfer.

For now, the message from Lucumì is clear: Juventus is still his first choice.

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