Luciano Spalletti has made his position on the transfer market unambiguously clear, and Carnevali and Massara have absorbed the message entirely. Every incoming deal will be counted to the last cent. No more money thrown out of the Continassa windows. In that context, the meeting held at the Juventus training ground on Wednesday produced several significant updates — on Vlahović, on Matic, on Muharemović, and on the emerging preference for Lucumí.
Two Strikers Are Required — and Jeff Ekhator Cannot Be One of Them
The starting point is stark. Spalletti is certain he needs two forwards of genuine substance to complement Jeff Ekhator — a player whose arrival is warmly welcomed, but who cannot yet be expected to carry the attacking responsibilities of a senior first-team striker. David, Openda, and Milik are all heading towards the exit. The squad, offensively, needs rebuilding from a credible foundation.
One of those two strikers could be Kolo Muani — still the leading target, with the deal in its final stages. The other remains open. And it is here that Vlahović’s name has resurfaced with renewed and genuine force.
Vlahović: The Doors Are Wide Open — Under the Right Conditions
Vlahović was explicitly discussed in yesterday’s summit at the Continassa. Juventus are moving deliberately rather than urgently — they want to understand the full picture around Kolo Muani and Argentine striker Pellegrino before making a formal approach. But the fact that his name is still on the table, still being discussed internally, is itself a powerful signal. As Tuttosport puts it: if the right conditions can be found, the doors will not merely be open — they will be flung wide.
The conditions, however, are non-negotiable. Just over €6 million net per year, minimum bonuses, and an attitude change that goes hand in hand with the contractual terms. Everything else — the goodwill on both sides, Spalletti’s desire to have him, the zero transfer fee — already points towards yes.
Matic: Offered as a Bonus — and Seriously Considered
The most unexpected figure to surface from Wednesday’s summit is Nemanja Matić. The 38-year-old Serbian midfielder — who came agonisingly close to joining Juventus a decade ago from Chelsea — was offered to the club through Vlado Lemic, the same intermediary who represents Dibu Martínez and who is now acting as a conduit between the two operations. Carnevali knows Matić’s value intimately, having had him at Sassuolo. Massara, though he never worked with the midfielder directly at Roma or Rennes, holds him in high regard from close observation. A player who can guarantee twelve months at a high level — used judiciously, not overloaded — at €2 million per year on the books at Sassuolo. Juventus are reflecting without yet engaging. The concern, inevitably, is the age — 38 by August. But the logic of bringing in a figure who raises the experience level and leadership of the dressing room at minimal financial cost is not without appeal.
Muharemović Slows — Lucumí Takes Priority
The most operationally significant development from the summit concerns the defensive picture. The Muharemović deal has slowed for two distinct reasons. The first is strategic: Juventus are exploring whether they can extract €20 million from the Premier League through their 50% sell-on clause by finding a buyer there first, rather than simply completing a straightforward deal with Sassuolo. The second is tactical: Spalletti’s genuine preference for Jhon Lucumí over Muharemović is becoming clearer and is now influencing the club’s decision-making in a meaningful way.
Lucumí is a more natural marker, a more immediately impactful defensive presence. Muharemović, by contrast, still needs time to fully develop — excellent as he is, he remains a longer-term project. The crucial timing factor is the release clause: after 15 July, with Lucumí entering the final year of his contract, Bologna’s bargaining position collapses entirely and a fee considerably below €28 million becomes realistic. Juventus are prepared to be patient for that moment. Meanwhile, for Bremer, Gatti, and Rugani — nothing is moving. And Lloyd Kelly, despite Bournemouth’s interest, has no genuine positional alternative within the squad.
The picture is complex, the budget is tight, and the negotiations are measured to the last penny. But direction, at last, is becoming clear — and today, even more of the summer’s biggest questions may find their answers.
