Juve have revived their interest in RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, which dates back to last year, having secured a Champions League berth by finishing the Serie A season in fourth position.
The financial riches of competing in Europe’s elite tournament means that Juventus will have the money to strengthen their squad, and bring in a goal machine to potentially replace Dusan Vlahovic.
Serbia striker Vlahovic has one season left on his Juve deal, with talks having stalled about a contract extension as the club propose to decrease his salary. Premier League clubs and the Turkish Super Lig appear to be Vlahovic’s next destination.
Sesko has been monitored by the Bianconeri ever since he bagged a brace in October’s 3-2 Champions League defeat to Juventus.
Invest for success
Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is preparing to heavily invest in achieving success both domestically and in Europe next term. Although he will not want a repeat of last summer’s transfers, when he was seemingly railroaded by the then Bianconeri boss Thiago Motta.
German newspaper Sport Bild claim that there is a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in Sesko’s contract, with this release clause allowing him to leave before his contract expires in June 2029 for a snip at just €70m (US$79.5m).
Yet RB Leipzig have slapped a €100 million (US$113.5m) price tag on Sesko for a potential summer switch, because he has been in red-hot form and scored 21 goals last term for the German Bundesliga outfit.
Premier League rivals
The 21-year-old Slovenia international has been attracting attention from an array of leading Premier League clubs over the past campaign, which included Chelsea and Liverpool.
Arsenal appear to be the only English club making any serious noises about securing his signature. Sesko’s high salary demands may prove to be an obstacle for the Turin titans, but not Arsenal.
Even a substantial offer would not prise RB Leipzig to part with their talisman, as the decision would solely rest on Sesko whether to stay or go.
Juve are looking at top-class talent with prolific goal-scoring records to play alongside Kenan Yildiz next term. The Turkish talent has made it clear that he plans to follow in the footsteps of his Juventus hero Alessandro Del Piero, by trying to become a club legend that sports the no10 jersey.
Victor Osimhen was Juve’s top target this summer, but the free-scoring Napoli outcast dismissed interest in a switch to Turin.
Goal-scoring wishlist
Atalanta ace Ademola Lookman, Bologna's Dan Ndoye, Lecce hot-shots Nikola Krstovic and Lorenzo Lucca, plus a handful of exiled Manchester United stars remain on the radar of the Bianconeri.
Nyoye, the Switzerland winger who bagged the only goal in this month’s Coppa Italia final against AC Milan, is firmly on the Juventus radar with a possible swap deal involving Juve’s exiled attacker Samuel Mbangula.
Sesko’s pace, physicality and scoring prowess displayed for club and country would add an extra dimension to Juve’s attack.