While the Bianconeri have been scouring for a center forward to ultimately replace Dusan Vlahovic, the hunt for secondary strikers has ended up with a list longer than Tudor’s leg.
Yet rumors surrounding a cut-price double swoop for Juve’s Samuel Mbangula and Timothy Weah appear to be pulling someone’s leg.
ESPN has reported that Nottingham Forest have agreed to purchase the pair from Juventus for only €22 million (US$25.5m), with just personal terms to be sorted to get the deal over the line.
Both Mbangula, the subject of an unsuccessful €9.6 million (US$11.1m) bid from West Ham United during the winter transfer window, and Weah are individually valued around €20m (US$23.2m).
Goal feasts
Mbangulu and Weah are tackling the 2025 Club World Cup, but between them experienced little game time. Juve have been on fire in front of goal, their opening Group G games have resulted in a whopping nine goals.
Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz has notched three and will be at Juventus next term. Yet the other Club World Cup scorers, discounting Wydad AC’s own goal, are unlikely to sporting the Juve jersey next season.
FC Porto’s Francisco Conceicao (two goals) and Paris Saint-Germain’s Kolo Muani (two) are on extended loans for the tournament, while the club want to cash in on Vlahovic who keeps turning down a move to the Turkish Super Lig.
Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo has Conference League competition next term, with European action being dangled as the carrot for potential new recruits at the City Ground.
Out of favor
Belgium U21 star Mbangulu fell down the pecking order after Thiago Motta was axed and replaced by Tudor in March.
The youth academy product, who favors racing down the left wing to launch counter-attacks, bagged four goals from 32 appearances in all competitions last season.
Mbangula has also generated serious interest from AFC Bournemouth and German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg. The 21-year-old requires a club where he is a regular starter as his goal is to play at next year’s World Cup.
Weah has skipped international for the United States, who are in the CONCACAF Gold Cup that is being played at the same time as the cash-rich Club World Cup finals.
Pele praise
The 25-year-old was famously praised by the late, great Pele after scoring against Wales at the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar. Last season he hit six goals for Juventus.
Weah’s versatility has caught the attention of Everton and Tottenham Hotspur. The right winger Weah can be employed as a center forward, on the left flank, as a secondary striker and at wing-back.
Juventus do not need to sell the dynamic pair on the cheap, but Tudor seems determined to have a clear out before investing in new talent.