Juventus Pursues New No 9 Amid Spalletti's Frustration

Juventus won. Luciano Spalletti did not.

Behind the three points against Frosinone, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports a very different mood at Continassa: agitation, urgency, and a familiar problem that just will not go away. The central striker role, again, sits at the heart of it.

Juventus have gone back into the market for a centre-forward, worried that the options already in the squad cannot carry the scoring burden over a full season. The performance against Frosinone only sharpened those doubts. The Bianconeri created enough to win comfortably; they scraped through instead. Spalletti’s touchline frustration told its own story.

This is not a new saga. Previous pursuits of Lois Openda and Jonathan David underlined how hard Juventus have found it to land a long-term solution at No 9. With the transfer window closing in, that failure now feels like a pressing problem rather than a theoretical one. The club’s new leadership has made the role a priority in these final days of business.

Kolo Muani in the firing line

Randal Kolo Muani felt the full force of that tension.

Signed for a significant fee and billed as a key piece of the rebuild, the Frenchman squandered a string of clear chances against Frosinone and repeatedly stalled Juventus’ attacking rhythm. For a coach who demands ruthlessness in the box, it was a display that cut deep.

Spalletti did not bother to sugar-coat it afterwards. He delivered a blunt message in public, a pointed reminder of the standards required at a club chasing major honours.

“Randal also needs to realise that if he hasn't been playing for two years, there's a reason why,” Spalletti said, throwing down the gauntlet to the former Paris Saint-Germain forward.

The remark landed like a warning shot. Perform, or step aside for someone who will.

Sorloth at the top of the list

That “someone” has a name: Alexander Sorloth.

According to the report, Spalletti is now actively pushing for the Atletico Madrid striker, convinced the Norwegian fits the classic No 9 profile he believes the squad lacks. Sorloth brings size, presence and a penalty-box instinct that Juventus have struggled to find in recent seasons, and he arrives with numbers to back it up. He has hit 20 or more goals in each of his last three campaigns, a level of consistency that instantly appeals.

Juventus are working on a formula to make it happen. At Continassa, the focus has turned to a potential swap involving Nico Gonzalez, with the winger open to a move to Madrid. That structure could ease the financial strain and accelerate talks with Atletico.

If that path closes, another door remains slightly ajar.

Zirkzee the alternative

Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee is viewed as a late-window alternative, a different type of forward but still a live option. The Dutchman offers creativity, link play and movement outside the box rather than Sorloth’s more traditional target-man profile.

For Spalletti, that contrast matters. Sorloth would reshape the attack around a dominant focal point. Zirkzee would tilt it towards fluidity and combinations. The choice would define how Juventus intend to break down deep, organised defences over the coming months.

What is not in doubt is the coach’s demand: a reliable scorer, someone who turns pressure into points, not regret.

Clock ticking on a decisive call

Time, now, is the enemy.

With the summer window about to slam shut, Juventus must move quickly to lock in their attacking structure for the season ahead. Inside the club, landing a proven goalscorer is seen as the final major piece of the puzzle, the difference between sterile dominance and decisive superiority in the final third.

Whether they manage to wrest Sorloth from Atletico or pivot towards Zirkzee in the final hours, the message from the bench is unmistakable. Spalletti wants a ruthless No 9 — and he wants him now.

The next few days will show if Juventus can match that demand with action, or if another season begins with the same old question hanging over their attack.