Nico Gonzalez, Pierre Kalulu, and Teun Koopmeiners all share a connection beyond being transfer targets for Juventus. They will all miss the first matches of the Serie A season: Gonzalez and Kalulu are not included in the squads for Fiorentina’s game against Parma and Milan’s clash with Torino, respectively, while Koopmeiners will also be absent for Atalanta’s match against Lecce on Monday. The reason for their absence lies in their uncertain futures in the transfer market.
Juventus is hopeful but not overly optimistic about securing at least one of them before their debut against Como, scheduled for Monday at 20:25. They aim to potentially bring in all three by the end of the transfer window, and even add another winger, Conceiçao Junior from Porto. Currently, Gonzalez appears to be the most likely signing because Fiorentina has found a replacement for him, which Atalanta has yet to do for Koopmeiners. Kalulu’s situation is more complex as he is taking his time to consider his options.
Fiorentina officially signed Gudmundsson yesterday and chose to leave Gonzalez out of their matchday squad, even though Atalanta is also keeping an eye on him. Gonzalez is looking to leave, but a definitive agreement with Juventus is still needed. Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli aims to finalize the deal by the weekend. The agreed figure stands at €30 million, but the terms are still under discussion: Juventus prefers a loan with an obligation to buy, while Fiorentina is leaning towards a straight cash deal. It’s critical for Thiago Motta, Fiorentina’s coach, to have two wingers, especially with only Weah and Yildiz available.
After Gonzalez, Juventus intends to push for Conceiçao, aided by his agent Mendes. However, Porto has yet to respond to their interest.
As for Koopmeiners, Atalanta is firm in its stance. They believe Juventus’ initial offer was delayed and not sufficient for them to act in the market. Moreover, Koopmeiners has reportedly expressed his frustrations, complicating his situation within the team environment. The club has stated that Koopmeiners can only leave once they secure an adequate replacement, whom they have yet to identify. The preferred candidate is O’Riley, but he remains far from being a viable option at this point. Alternatives under consideration have not entirely satisfied the board.
Luca Percassi, Atalanta’s CEO, spoke prior to their match against Real Madrid, emphasizing the club’s appreciation for Koopmeiners despite the current issues. “We know what Teun has provided and what he has received in return. Sometimes mistakes happen, but he remains an important player for us,” he commented. The possibility of Koopmeiners returning to training with Atalanta is currently viewed as extreme, though not entirely ruled out. It could happen next week only if he agrees to it, and would require considerable diplomatic effort to mend any rifts.