Juventus is currently working hard to strengthen their squad as the transfer market heats up. This week, the club has set a clear goal: they want to bring in Nico Gonzalez from Fiorentina in time for their season opener against Como on Monday, August 19th. This urgency is underscored by recent matches, where Thiago Motta’s options were limited against Atletico Madrid, resulting in a defeat thanks to Diego Simeone’s effective substitutions.
Cristiano Giuntoli, Juventus’ football director, has not traveled with the team to Sweden, opting instead to work in the warm climate of Forte dei Marmi, Italy. This choice reflects his focus on negotiations rather than the pleasant weather. During his time in Tuscany, Giuntoli has been in contact with Fiorentina’s director Daniele Pradé to expedite the transfer for Nico Gonzalez, who was spotted relaxing by the sea with his girlfriend.
Negotiations are progressing well, with both clubs largely agreeing on a transfer fee of around €30 million, and the player already having an agreement in place with Juventus. Discussions are ongoing about the potential inclusion of a player in the deal, such as Weston McKennie or Filip Kostić, but to ensure a quicker resolution, these matters may be handled at different times. It seems likely that Gonzalez could arrive in Turin first, while one of the two players might move to Florence later on.
Before finalizing Gonzalez’s move, Fiorentina wants to secure a replacement: Albert Gudmundsson from Genoa. They expect to have this deal wrapped up soon, possibly by mid-week. Meanwhile, Juventus is eager to provide Motta with his first signing.
However, Motta will have to wait a bit longer for his second attacking reinforcement. Francisco Conceição, son of former Lazio player Sergio, is currently at the top of the list. He has decided to leave Porto and is interested in a move to Italy. Giuntoli has entrusted the task of negotiating the deal to Jorge Mendes, who famously brought Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus in 2018. The pressure is on as other clubs, like RB Leipzig, are also in pursuit.
Thus, Juventus is considering several last-minute options, including loans for high-profile players like Jadon Sancho from Manchester United, Raheem Sterling from Chelsea, and Domenico Berardi, who has recently experienced relegation with Sassuolo and is still recovering from an injury. The interest in Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund and Galeno from Porto has lessened.
In addition to Gonzalez and Conceição, Teun Koopmeiners remains a primary target for Juventus this summer. Giuntoli has also spent the weekend coordinating efforts with intermediaries to negotiate with Atalanta, who are currently holding firm on their asking price. Juventus aims to secure Koopmeiners with an offer of around €50 million plus bonuses, although Atalanta reportedly wants at least €55 million. As negotiations continue, Koopmeiners hopes to join the Bianconeri soon.