Juventus Make Surprise Striker Move

Juventus are continuing to reshape their attacking plans for the new season, and while the pursuit of Randal Kolo Muani remains active, the Bianconeri are now accelerating work on a second striker.

According to Tuttosport, the club’s transfer strategy has evolved in recent days, with Parma forward Mateo Pellegrino emerging as one of the most concrete alternatives after negotiations for Alexander Sorloth became increasingly complicated.

Luciano Spalletti has reportedly made it clear to the Juventus hierarchy that he wants two natural centre-forwards in his squad, regardless of other attacking arrivals.

That objective has remained unchanged despite the signing of Jeff Ekhator, while there have been no significant developments regarding Jonathan David, whose name is no longer considered an immediate priority.

Juventus Open Talks for Pellegrino

As reported by Tuttosport, Juventus initially explored a move for Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth, but the Spanish club’s valuation of more than €40 million has proved to be a major obstacle.

With Atletico showing little willingness to reduce their demands, the Turin giants have intensified their search for alternative options.

One of the strongest candidates is Mateo Pellegrino. Initial contacts between the player’s representatives and Juventus date back to mid-June, when the Argentine striker was first offered to the club through intermediaries.

While discussions initially remained informal, the situation has progressed rapidly over the past few days. Juventus executives reportedly used their recent meeting with Parma—where they finalized the transfer of Giovanni Daffara—to also discuss Pellegrino’s future.

Parma’s position is clear: they value the striker at around €30 million, partly because Velez Sarsfield are entitled to 7.5 percent of any future transfer fee.

Juventus, however, are hoping to close the deal for closer to €25 million and continue to negotiate both the final fee and the payment structure.

Parma are understood to be open to a paid loan with an obligation to buy under certain conditions, while Juventus would prefer an option to buy in order to maintain greater financial flexibility.

Spalletti Sees the Perfect Profile

Pellegrino may not yet possess the reputation of strikers such as Sorloth, Jean-Philippe Mateta or Omar Marmoush, but Juventus believe his profile perfectly matches what Spalletti is looking for in a traditional No. 9.

The Argentine enjoyed an impressive campaign with Parma, scoring 12 goals in 39 appearances across Serie A and the Coppa Italia.

His aerial ability was particularly impressive, with nine of those goals coming via headers, while his physical presence and hold-up play have made him one of the league’s most effective target men.

Juventus also see the financial aspect as an advantage. Compared to several of the club’s other attacking targets, Pellegrino represents a more affordable investment while still offering significant room for development.

The Bianconeri remain cautious about committing to expensive mandatory purchase clauses, especially given the uncertainty surrounding future Champions League qualification.

The club is keen to avoid placing unnecessary pressure on next season’s budget if results do not go as planned. For now, the next move belongs to Parma. Should the Emilia-Romagna club soften their €30 million asking price, Juventus could quickly launch a decisive bid.

The Turin giants view Pellegrino not only as an important reinforcement for their Europa League campaign but also as a long-term investment capable of significantly increasing his value over the coming seasons.

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