While Juventus are busy preparing to tackle the lucrative 2025 FIFA Club World Cup finals, the club are still on the hunt to strengthen their squad.
A combined price of just over €50 million (US$56m) could persuade Club Brugge to sell defender Joel Ordonez and hot-shot striker Christos Tzolis to the Bianconeri. With no transfer required for versatile teenager Grady Makiobo, who can play in defense and midfield.
A plethora of players have successfully come through the Juventus Next Gen academy, including Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen and Juve star striker Kenan Yildiz.
Juventus are in the process of trying to lure a no nonsense center-back from Club Brugge to join their reserve team this summer.
Makiobo, the Belgian U18 international made 16 appearances for Club Brugge in last season’s 10-team U18 Elite League in Belgium.
International stage
He came to the attention of the Bianconeri when he featured in two international U18 friendlies against Italy in March. The athletic teenager played one game in the defence and the other in central midfield.
Juve then monitored him in April’s five-club U18 Elite 1 Pro League, where he played in central defense.
If Makiobo decides to stay with Club Brugge, he would step up a level to their Club NXT academy before making a potential breakthrough to the senior side.
Serie C beckons
Joining the Turin titans as a free agent offers the 18-year-old to fight for a place in Juve’s reserve team in Serie C, with home games played at the Stadio La Marmora-Pozzo in Biella.
Massimo Brambilla is the current Juventus Next Gen manager, having returned to the role following a brief and unsuccessful stint at Foggia.
Brambilla favors a 3-5-2 tactical formation, so Makiobo could be utilized in defense or midfield should he choose to switch clubs.