Juventus Moves Closer to Kolo Muani as Carnevali Hints at Breakthrough

Juventus edge closer to Kolo Muani as Carnevali signals breakthrough

The clock is ticking in Turin and Juventus know it. Less than a month before the new Serie A season kicks off, Luciano Spalletti is still waiting for the centre-forward he has been promised. The club’s hierarchy insist the wait is almost over – and all roads now lead back to Randal Kolo Muani.

Dusan Vlahovic walked away at the end of June when his contract expired, leaving a sizeable void at the tip of Spalletti’s attack. Contacts with the Serbian’s camp have not been completely severed, but Juventus have clearly moved on to other options, scouring Europe for a striker who can both stretch defences and finish with authority.

Kolo Muani fits that brief. He already knows Turin, already knows the shirt. During a loan spell in the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, the France international struck eight goals in 16 Serie A appearances, a sharp, efficient return that made an impression on decision‑makers at Continassa. His mobility, his ability to attack space, and his work without the ball all chimed with Spalletti’s demands.

Paris Saint‑Germain, though, hold his contract and, up to now, the stronger hand. Negotiations have dragged on for weeks, with Juventus probing for a formula that respects their financial limits while still tempting the French champions to sell.

The latest proposal, sent to PSG earlier this week, marks Juventus’ most aggressive move yet: a season‑long loan with an obligation to buy for €40 million, plus add‑ons. Those bonuses are structured to push the total package close to the €50m valuation PSG have been holding out for. It is a bid designed to end the stalemate.

The mood around the deal shifted on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters, Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali was asked what still needed to happen before an agreement could be sealed with PSG. His answer was brief, but telling.

“I hope not a lot,” he replied.

No declarations of victory, no grandstanding. Just a pointed hint that Juventus believe they are finally within striking distance of the striker they have been chasing all summer.

For Spalletti, the timing matters. Pre-season plans are built around patterns of play, automatisms, the understanding between a No 9 and the creative cast around him. Every day without a focal point in attack is a day lost. Kolo Muani, with his previous stint in Turin, would at least arrive with a head start.

PSG, for their part, must decide whether Juventus’ latest structure is close enough to their demands to justify cashing in. A loan with an obligation to buy offers guaranteed money down the line, but only if the conditions are met exactly as written. The French club’s stance on those details will decide how quickly this saga ends.

For now, Juventus wait, but not passively. The offer is on the table, the need is obvious, and Carnevali’s words suggest the gap is narrowing. The Old Lady has identified her new No 9.

The question now is simple: will PSG finally open the door, or force Juventus back into the market with the season rushing into view?