Juventus’s goalkeeping search has taken a new turn. La Gazzetta dello Sport reports this morning that Vanja Milinkovic-Savic has entered the list of goalkeepers being monitored by the club, with Juventus already gathering information on the feasibility of an operation for the Serbian international. He joins a list that continues to grow in scope even as the primary target, Dibu Martínez, remains the clear preference.
Why Milinkovic-Savic Makes Sense
The 27-year-old younger brother of former Lazio and Saudi Pro League midfielder Sergej has developed into one of Serie A’s most respected goalkeepers during his time at Torino, before moving on to Napoli. He has been at the centre of considerable transfer speculation himself this summer, with Napoli’s new manager Massimiliano Allegri reportedly willing to sanction his departure as part of a wider goalkeeping overhaul at the club.
For Juventus, who endured what can only be described as a deeply unsatisfactory season from their goalkeeping options — with neither Michele Di Gregorio nor Mattia Perin convincing Spalletti — the appeal of an experienced, Serie A-proven Serbian international is clear. Milinkovic-Savic is reliable, commanding, and already deeply familiar with Italian football. He does not carry the financial complications of a Premier League transfer or the uncertainty of an international negotiation.
Where He Sits in the Pecking Order
Martínez remains the primary target, and personal terms between Juventus and the Argentine’s representatives have already been agreed in principle. The outstanding issue is reaching an agreement with Aston Villa on the transfer fee. Should those negotiations stall or collapse entirely, Juventus need credible fallback options — and Milinkovic-Savic now joins Guglielmo Vicario, Jan Oblak, and David De Gea on a list that Carnevali is keeping deliberately broad at this stage of the window.
The Napoli Complication — and the Vicario Link
The Milinkovic-Savic pursuit intersects with events at Napoli in an intriguing way. Napoli are reportedly in discussions with Tottenham over Guglielmo Vicario, who has been identified as a priority target under Allegri. Should Vicario end up at Napoli rather than Juventus, Milinkovic-Savic’s availability at the same club would create a domino effect that works squarely in the bianconeri‘s favour.
With the transfer window officially opening on 29 June, Juventus are moving methodically — keeping multiple options live whilst pursuing Martínez as the headline target. Milinkovic-Savic is not the dream signing. But in a summer defined by financial pragmatism, he may yet prove to be exactly the right one.
