The club is looking for a central midfielder and has initiated discussions with Swedish side Elfsborg regarding a promising Kenyan player, Timothy Noor Ouma, who was born in 2004. Ouma is currently competing in both domestic matches and the Europa League qualifiers for his club. In contrast, there is a more experienced option in Tiémoué Bakayoko, a 30-year-old Frenchman who previously played for Milan and Napoli. Bakayoko has recently parted ways with his French club Lorient and is currently a free agent. Empoli is considering him as a solid alternative to Alberto Grassi, who will miss the upcoming match against Roma due to suspension.
On another front, the Rossoblù aim to bolster their attack ahead of their match at Unipol Domus by adding a new forward to complement Piccoli, Luvumbo, and Pavoletti. However, the club has set a rule: before any new signings can be made, they need to offload some players first. The transfer of Gianluca Lapadula is crucial to make room for a move for Bakayoko, as the former Napoli player is not in Antonio Conte’s plans. Lapadula, who is well-settled in Cagliari, has a high salary and another year left on his contract. Additionally, the pursuit of a potential replacement appears stalled, as the Peruvian demands more than a year to leave.
The Rossoblù are also in talks with Barcelona about 20-year-old Senegalese defender Mikayil Faye, who is highly sought after by several clubs, including Inter, Milan, and Rennes, with past interest from Juventus. Barcelona is reportedly asking for €20 million, while Bologna is only willing to offer up to €10 million plus bonuses. Another option includes a loan deal, although that doesn’t seem to suit either side.
Meanwhile, Palermo has made a quick decision to address the injury of goalkeeper Gomis by bringing back Salvatore Sirigu, who developed through their ranks between 2009 and 2011 before moving to PSG. This nostalgic move aims to solve their current emergency. An agreement has been reached, and they now await final confirmation from Manchester before proceeding with medical examinations.
Today, Juventus will hold an important meeting with Fiorentina as director Cristiano Giuntoli seeks to resolve their ongoing negotiations. Juventus has received a positive response from Nico, who has agreed to a €3.5 million contract but has informed the club of his desire to join them. The last barrier is Fiorentina’s president, Rocco Commisso, who has been unresponsive to Juventus’s €30 million offer. Commisso is holding out for an irresistible deal, likely around €40 million, which means Juventus may increase their proposal to include Arthur and Filip Kostic, both of whom are on their way out.
Lastly, the interest in Atalanta’s Lookman appears to be waning as PSG has yet to submit a satisfying offer, leaving the possibility of Lookman staying with Atalanta growing stronger. Additionally, Raoul Bellanova, the Torino right-back, has caught the eye of several clubs and is viewed as a young talent ready for the Champions League. A transfer from Torino to Bergamo could be on the horizon as interest in him continues to rise.