Juventus would like to sign a striker this winter, and Genoa’s Eldor Shomurodov has entered the picture.
As of right now, Juventus have only four forwards to choose from in Cristiano Ronaldo, Paulo Dybala, Alvaro Morata, and Dejan Kulusevski. For the most part, Ronaldo, Morata, and Dybala are rotated as options in a front two, since Andrea Pirlo usually deploys a 4-4-2 setup.
But out of those four forwards, only Morata is a No. 9. There is no backup option behind him, and therefore Juve are prioritizing the signing of an inexpensive backup striker to bolster their depth at the position.
A reunion with Fabio Quagliarella is possible but difficult, as the experienced Serie A striker seems to be thoroughly enjoying his football at Sampdoria. Olivier Giroud is a dream option, but he would also be tough to obtain from Chelsea.
According to a report from Tuttosport, Genoa’s Eldor Shomurodov is the latest striker on Juve’s radar in the January transfer market.
Eldor Shomurodov is a refreshingly younger option for Juventus
Shomurodov is a less-known name than most of the strikers linked to Juventus, and the former Rostov man has logged just 539 minutes in Serie A this season. He has scored twice and assisted once in those minutes, and there are glimpses of his potential to be a quality striker in Serie A.
That said, a couple of years ago, Shomurodov was a standout in Russia with 11 goals and six assists, averaging 1.4 key passes per game in the process. The 25-year-old has the traits to be a well-rounded backup option for Morata, and Juventini will like his physical profile.
Moreover, fans will appreciate that the club is looking at a younger backup option at striker instead of another player over the age of 33. Juventus have been criticized for not signing enough young talent. Look at their current forwards and you’ll see that the only developing talent under 27 is Kulusevski, so Shomurodov could end up being important to Juve for a few years instead of just a six-month stopgap option behind Morata.