The Bianconeri’s saga over extending their rising star’s contract with a salary befitting of his silky skills is a risky game for the Italian giants.
Turkish talent Kenan Yildiz possesses one of the best-ever agents in Jorge Mendes, who will not allow his client to be underpaid by Juventus.
The offer that the Turin titans have tabled has been rejected, leaving a cluster of European giants monitoring the 20-year-old’s availability and ready to pounce during the winter transfer window.
As Yildiz offered himself to Barcelona in the summer, it appears that he perceives a future away from the Bianconeri as he wishes to start winning trophies.
Juventus cannot offer that prospect under head coach Igor Tudor, whose chaotic substitutions and inflexible tactical approach has left the team stuttering this season with a remarkable run of five stalemates on the spin.
Tudor draws comparisons to Motta
Winning matches is the only acceptable currency for such an elite club. Failure to do so cost Thiago Motta his job, with Tudor also heading for the exit door unless there are some drastic changes.
The Bianconeri face daunting trips to Como and Real Madrid, when Yildiz will be determined to show his worth to potential suitors.
Juve’s underwhelming performance for the dull showdown against AC Milan was a personal disappointment for Yildiz, especially as Arsenal sent scouts to rule their eye over him and he was substituted with more than 20 minutes remaining.
Juventus have already lined up a potential replacement to fill the boots of Yildiz should the inevitable happen and the Juventus Next Gen graduate be sold in January.
PSG and Juventus bickering
Juve face a hurdle over luring a target that they strongly contemplated signing during the summer as he plies his trade for PSG, a club who has a frosty professional relationship with the Bianconeri.
The debacle over another loan for striker Kolo Muani ended with a word of words between Juventus and PSG, which could result in the Turin team being denied an opportunity to sign versatile attacking midfielder Kang-in Lee.
PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi hit out at Juventus directors and fumed to Sports Zone about the Bianconeri: “You’ve been making fun of us for weeks. It’s over. You won’t win the case. I’ll remember your methods, you can count on that.”
PSG manager Luis Enrique has a squad brimming with top-class talent, with many disillusioned at their lack of regular minutes for the Ligue 1 powerhouse.
Zhegrova was Juve's second choice
Juve explored signing Lee in the summer, when they were in negotiations with the French club about the return of Muani. Yet the fall out after talks collapsed put paid to the 24-year-old’s arrival in Turin, with the Bianconeri opting to take a gamble on the deadline day signing of unfit Edon Zhegrova.
Arsenal, Manchester United and Napoli have joined Juventus in closely monitoring Lee who has bagged nine goals in 59 Ligue 1 games since joining from Mallorca in 2023.
Juve’s argument with PSG could come back to haunt them, and potentially end any interest in a player who is valued at just €30 million (US$34.9m). Leaving further speculation about signing Manchester City veteran Bernardo Silva or the highly improbable acquisition of Sandro Tonali.