Juventus need a new starting striker for the 2020-2021 season, and they are one step closer to signing that player.
Gonzalo Higuain has been a serviceable player for Juventus, but his recent performances in 2019-2020 have made it clear that an upgrade is needed. In Cristiano Ronaldo and Paulo Dybala, the Bianconeri have two of the world’s best forwards, but they need a third man in the middle to link it all together.
It won’t be easy to sign a top striker this summer, and Juve will have to wait to pursue a true superstar player like Erling Haaland. Even Raul Jimenez seems unrealistic.
But Napoli striker Arkadiusz Milik is available and affordable with his contract running out. Milik is a talented, athletic striker who is often streaky, but he could reach new heights at a club like Juventus. He’d seemingly be a good system fit for Maurizio Sarri up top, too.
According to a report from Gianluca Di Marzio, Juventus and Milik have actually already agreed to personal terms. That means it’s just up to Juve to get the right deal with Napoli.
It seems like Napoli will try to drive a hard bargain, but they basically know they can’t keep Milik. And there’s no way Milik would rather stay with the underperforming Napoli, who haven’t always used him right, than join a team with nine straight Scudetti and huge ambitions.
Federico Bernardeschi has been tossed around as an option for a swap deal, but Napoli may not be interested in a player who has been one of Serie A’s least effective attackers in 2019-2020. But hopefully, Juventus will be able to use someone expendable in a swap deal and avoid paying much money for Milik.
A solid striker, Milik can be part of the solution for the Bianconeri, but there will be plenty of Juventini who wanted Jimenez or an even bigger star at striker. In this economy, though, signing Milik should be seen as a huge win and a significant upgrade on the exiting Higuain.