Luciano Spalletti, the manager of Juventus, is reportedly growing frustrated with the club's lack of activity in the transfer market, despite the arrival of two new signings so far this window. Zeki Celik, a former Roma full-back, joined the club on a free transfer, while teenage centre-forward Jeff Ekhator was signed from Genoa, although he has since picked up an injury and is expected to be sidelined for three weeks.
Centre-Forward Conundrum
Spalletti had hoped that the end of the 2025-26 season, which saw Juventus finish sixth in Serie A, would provide an opportunity for a squad rebuild, but so far, this has yet to materialize. The club is still seeking to sign two new centre-forwards, following the departure of Dusan Vlahovic at the end of his contract on June 30.
Transfer Targets
Juventus are reportedly willing to increase their offer above the €40m for Randal Kolo Muani, a centre-forward from Paris Saint-Germain, and are also exploring a possible loan deal for Joshua Zirkzee, a striker from Manchester United. Mateo Pellegrino, a centre-forward from Parma, is another player that the club is interested in signing on a permanent deal. Richarlison, a winger from Tottenham, has also been mentioned as a potential target.
Goalkeeper Concerns
Spalletti is also eager to sign a new goalkeeper to replace Michele Di Gregorio, but the club has yet to finalise transfers for either Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa or Alisson Becker from Liverpool. As an alternative, Parma's Zion Suzuki and Tottenham's Guglielmo Vicario are being considered.
Midfield and Defence
Spalletti would ideally like to add one more player in midfield and another on the left side of defence, but the club is yet to make any significant progress in these areas. Douglas Luiz, a midfielder, is reportedly set to return to the squad after being reintegrated into training.
Training Group Concerns
Spalletti is concerned about the lack of quality in the training group, which features a number of players that are not part of his plans heading into the 2026-27 season. This includes Di Gregorio, Joao Mario, Edon Zhegrova, Lois Openda, and Arkadiusz Milik, among others.
Spalletti's frustration is understandable, given the lack of activity in the transfer market. However, the club's failure to deliver on its promises will only increase the pressure on the manager. It's high time for Juventus to take decisive action and deliver the squad rebuild that Spalletti has been promising.
The lack of transfer activity will impact Juventus's chances of competing for major honours in the 2026-27 season. Spalletti's frustration will also have a negative impact on the team's morale and cohesion. The club's failure to deliver on its promises will increase the pressure on the manager and the players.
Frequently Asked Questions
Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Randal Kolo Muani, Joshua Zirkzee, Mateo Pellegrino, and Richarlison.
Spalletti is frustrated with the lack of activity in the transfer market, despite the arrival of two new signings so far this window.
Juventus are reportedly interested in signing Emiliano Martinez from Aston Villa or Alisson Becker from Liverpool.