AFC Bournemouth, AS Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen, Bologna, Fulham, SV Werder Bremen, VfB Stuttgart and VfL Wolfsburg are all evaluating Samuel Mbangula.
Yet last week’s contact from Bournemouth and Fulham has propelled the pair of Premier League clubs into favorites to acquire the U21 Belgium international.
Versatile Mbangula impressed under the then head coach Thiago Motta, scoring on his debut against Como on the opening day of the Serie A season last August.
The 21-year-old can be implemented on either flank as well as a secondary striker or as a more conventional no10. The club turned down a winter transfer bid from West Ham United, because he was deemed to be part of Juve’s future. There's been a U-turn made.
Out of favour under Tudor
He slipped down the pecking order once Igor Tudor arrived in March, and failed to play a single minute during Juve’s indifferent Club World Cup campaign.
Mbangula was on the bench for the games against minnows Al-Ain FC and Wydad AC. He was omitted from the squad that faced Manchester City in the final group game.
This was because a deal was imminent for the sale of both Mbangula and Timothy Weah for a combined fee of €23 million (US$27m) to Nottingham Forest.
Various reports in England claimed that negotiations stopped as Forest were not convinced by the conditions of the deal. In Italy it was reported, with quotes from agents, that both of the players rejected the deal. Weah has numerous admirers queuing up for his signature.
Overlooked against Real Madrid
Not being brought on against Real Madrid, when the Bianconeri were desperately lacking firepower, signaled that the writing is firmly on the wall as far as Mbangula’s career with the Turin titans is concerned.
At least he has a plethora of options, and last season bagged four goals in 32 appearances in a Juve jersey. His dazzling displays alerted clubs looking to invest in young and versatile wingers to send their scouts to watch Mbangula.
Bournemouth, who like Forest were a surprise package in the Premier League last term, and Fulham have both shown serious interest in acquiring the Brussels-born rising star.
Juve sold defender Dean Huijsen to Bournemouth last summer, who was subsequently snapped up by Real Madrid. Huijsen was a Juventus Next Gen team-mate of Mbangula, so the Bournemouth are confident of bagging another bargain.
Fulham at the double
Fulham are also in the mix to acquire him. They are keen to swoop not just for Mbangula, who they have extensively scouted, but also Juve flop Douglas Luiz.
The Londoners are believed to be preparing to submit a €11.6m (US$13.6m) offer for Mbangula on top of tabling a bid for Luiz on loan with an option to buy.
Fulham boss Marco Silva, who was linked with the Juventus hot-seat, was left short of wide options last season following serious injuries to two key players. The club tailed off from their impressive season, and they are seeking back-up players to avoid a repeat scenario.
German outfits Leverkusen, Stuttgart, Werder Bremen and Wolfsburg have also shown interest in signing Mbangula.
Serie A or Cote d'Azur?
Bologna are contemplating a cash swap deal involving Dan Ndoye, while a move to Monaco would see Mbangula rejoin former Juve team-mate Paul Pogba at their iconic Stade Louis II Stadium on the Cote d’Azur.
Juventus could kick themselves if they decide to sell Mbangula on the cheap to make a quick buck.
The club’s best bet is to not make the same mistake that Motta did by being so dismissive of Huijsen, and maybe reconsider his future by sending him on loan for first-team experience.