The Dibu Martínez chapter of Juventus’s summer is not yet officially closed — but the signals from Birmingham are becoming increasingly difficult to interpret as anything other than a definitive wall. The Argentine goalkeeper has found himself in Aston Villa’s orbit following their interest in him as a potential replacement for Martínez, creating a circular market dynamic that has made Juventus’s pursuit even more complicated. Against that backdrop, Carnevali and Massara have moved decisively to identify and advance two concrete alternatives, and the goalkeeper question must now be resolved before the squad departs for Asia on 2 August.
The Carnevali-Cherubini Meeting That Changes the Picture
On Thursday, at the margins of the Serie A clubs’ annual assembly, Carnevali sat down with Parma chief executive Federico Cherubini — the former Juventus sporting director who now represents one of the club’s most regular transfer market partners — to discuss both Zion Suzuki and Mateo Pellegrino in the same conversation. The meeting was productive, and the idea that emerged is genuinely creative: using the funds earmarked for Pellegrino’s purchase to fund the Suzuki operation instead, with Miretti potentially going in the opposite direction as a makeweight that Parma would welcome.
Suzuki: Young, Ambitious — and With Premier League Competition
The goalkeeper race has effectively narrowed to a straight fight between Guglielmo Vicario and Zion Suzuki. The Japanese international, born in Newark to a Japanese mother and African-American father, has been Japan’s first-choice goalkeeper since 2022 and has developed impressively at Parma over the past two seasons. At 23, he represents exactly the kind of long-term investment that aligns with Carnevali’s stated philosophy of targeting younger profiles wherever possible. Parma value him at approximately €30 million — a figure that is not insignificant, but one that could be structured in a way that suits Juventus’s UEFA Settlement Agreement constraints, particularly if Miretti’s inclusion reduces the cash element. The complication is genuine Premier League competition: Leeds United and other mid-table English clubs have also been in dialogue for the Japanese international, and the Premier League’s financial persuasiveness should not be underestimated.
A further name has also entered the picture: Benfica’s Anatoliy Trubin, identified by transfer journalist Nicolò Schira as a player Juventus have genuine interest in — adding a third goalkeeper option to what is becoming a complex shortlist.
Vicario: The Loan Option That Will Not Wait Forever
Guglielmo Vicario’s candidacy remains entirely alive, with Tottenham now open to a loan without a purchase obligation — a development made more likely by Roberto De Zerbi’s decision not to include the Italian in the squad for Spurs’ pre-season tour of Australia. That exclusion is the clearest possible signal from the Tottenham manager that Vicario has no future at the club — and it works directly in Juventus’s favour, reducing any financial leverage Spurs might otherwise have sought in a sale. A loan at approximately €4 million per season is the structure being discussed, with a right to buy as an optional mechanism that would give both parties flexibility.
Two Tracks, One Deadline
The situation is clarifying rapidly. Vicario is the simpler, faster, and financially lighter option — achievable within days and at loan cost. Suzuki is the more ambitious, longer-term solution that requires a more complex negotiation but delivers a younger and potentially higher-ceiling goalkeeper for the years ahead. Both tracks are being pursued simultaneously. Today and tomorrow are described as decisive days for the Kolo Muani deal with PSG as well — meaning the coming 48 hours could resolve both of Juventus’s most pressing transfer questions simultaneously. The Asian tour waits for no one. Carnevali and Massara must choose — and choose fast.
