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Kessié, Højbjerg or Brozović; the latest for midfield

Published

2 months ago

August 16, 2026

Juventus are entering another crucial phase of the transfer window as the club’s sporting department works to finalize Luciano Spalletti’s squad.

According to Sportal Italia, the Bianconeri are active on both the incoming and outgoing fronts, with another departure expected to be completed in the coming hours.

Cabal Set for Bologna Move

Juan Cabal is close to joining Bologna. The two clubs have reached an agreement over a season-long loan for the Colombian defender, with the transfer expected to be officially announced soon.

Juventus and Bologna have already been in contact during their successful negotiations for Jhon Lucumí, and the relationship between the two clubs has now helped facilitate another deal.

Cabal failed to convince Spalletti during pre-season and is therefore set to leave Turin temporarily in search of regular playing time.

Meanwhile, Juventus are increasingly focused on strengthening their midfield with an experienced, internationally proven player. The leading candidate is Franck Kessié, who is currently a free agent.

The Ivorian midfielder is reportedly close to an agreement with Juventus and is open to returning to Italy. The proposed deal would be a three-year contract worth €4.5 million per season, plus a signing bonus.

Kessié’s intentions appear increasingly clear after he rejected another attempt from Al-Ahli to convince him to remain in Saudi Arabia for another season. However, one final obstacle remains before the midfielder can move to Turin: Juventus must first free up space in their squad.

Arthur, Koopmeiners and Miretti on the Exit List

Among the players who could leave are Arthur, Teun Koopmeiners and Fabio Miretti. Juventus are working to create room for Kessié, while also considering alternative midfield targets.

Pierre-Emile Højbjerg of Marseille is one option, with the Danish midfielder having recently rejected a Premier League proposal. Another intriguing possibility is Marcelo Brozović, who is currently a free agent following the end of his spell with Al-Nassr.

Brozović is reportedly eager to return to European football and believes he can still compete at the highest level. His previous relationship with Spalletti could also prove important, as the two worked together during their time at Inter.

Besiktas, meanwhile, are interested in both Arthur and Miretti. The Turkish club’s coach, Vincenzo Italiano, already knows Arthur from their time together at Fiorentina and would reportedly be delighted to reunite with the Brazilian midfielder.

Miretti is also attracting significant interest from Serie A, with Fiorentina, Bologna and Cagliari all having made contact with Juventus. The main issue is the transfer formula: Juventus would prefer a permanent sale, while the interested clubs are pushing for a loan with an option to buy.