Versatile midfielder Gustavo Sa is seen by Juve as an ideal replacement for in-demand Kenan Yildiz.
He offers the defensive awareness of a modern no8 with his skills coming close to operating at a no10 that Juventus are desperately missing.
Although Turkish talent Yildiz wears the coveted no10 at Juve, he is being employed on the wing by under-pressure manager Igor Tudor.
Former Juventus legend Michel Platini recently criticized his former club for playing the 20-year-old out of position and failing to utilize his exceptional range of skills.
Famalicao FC president Miguel Ribeiro recently revealed that a plethora of clubs have sent scouts to rule their eye over the 20-year-old, which includes both Juventus and Manchester City.
Sa moved from the FC Porto academy to join the Familicao U15 in January 2018. As a 16-year-old he was promoted to the U19 squad, and he signed his first professional contract.
Juventus target's rise to the top
Netting 10 goals in the U19 national championship, Sa was called up by Portugal U18 where he won the Torneio Internacional de Lisboa and Torneio Internacional do Porto.
Sa worked his way up to the senior side in 2022, and after impressing during pre-season the club extended his contract until June 2029.
He has played over 100 games sporting a Famalicao jersey and has been capped 13 times by Portugal U21. Sa made 33 league appearances last season, which resulted in setting up eight goals and scoring four times.
Famalicao’s no20 attacking midfielder, who has sporadically captained the club, has become a fan favorite since becoming a regular starter in November 2023.
Sa’s notable skills include quick feet and pace with a penchant to enter shoulder-to-shoulder duels on top of generating danger in front of goal make him an asset for Juventus. His only flaw is some of his passes can be wayward.
Famalicaos frequently sell their top talent, which included shotstopper Luiz Junior joining Spanish giants Villarreal in August 2024.
Sa offers Juve skills and value
Sa is valued at around €20 million (US$23.2m), which would be a bargain price for an emerging talent. He could ultimately replace Yildiz at Juve, should the Bianconeri be unable to keep their Juventus Next graduate.
Yildiz’s contract extension talks have stalled, which has resulted in his availability being monitored by numerous European giants who are not put off by his steep price tag.
The Bianconeri have Sa lined up as a winter or summer transfer target should their lose their prized asset Yildiz.