Juventus Pursue Powerful No.9 as Mateta Emerges as Target

Juventus are scouring the market for a physically dominant centre-forward to spearhead Luciano Spalletti’s attack next season, with Premier League profiles firmly in their sights.

According to Calciomercato, the club want a more direct, robust presence up front to diversify their options. Joshua Zirkzee has been discussed, but he is only one name in a wider casting call as the Bianconeri test several avenues in England.

Sporting director Frederic Massara is leading the operation, weighing cost, profile and availability as Juventus look for a striker who can immediately raise the level of their frontline rather than simply pad out the numbers.

Mateta back on Juve’s radar

One option has pushed himself to the front of the queue.

Per La Gazzetta dello Sport, Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has re-emerged as a serious target after offering his services to the Turin club. The Frenchman, under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2027, is understood to be open to a new challenge following a change in the dugout at Palace.

That willingness has not gone unnoticed in Turin. Juventus are closely tracking his situation, seeing him as a ready-made, physically imposing option who fits the brief for a central reference point in Spalletti’s system. For now, though, Mateta remains one of several names under consideration as the club weigh up their final moves in the market.

Young forwards on the radar

Juventus are not limiting themselves to one profile or one league.

The Italian giants have also been monitoring a cluster of young European forwards as they look to deepen the squad and future-proof the attack. Among the names followed are Nottingham Forest’s Arnaud Kalimuendo and Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade, both attracting attention from multiple top clubs, including Napoli.

Their emergence underlines the level of competition in this sector of the market. Any move will have to respect Juventus’ financial framework and existing squad balance, with Massara reluctant to overload positions or stretch the wage bill for players who are not guaranteed to start.

Outgoings will decide the final move

There is one hard condition before any of these attacking plans can become reality.

Juventus must first unlock exits to create both space and budget. The departure of Canadian forward Jonathan David is viewed as a key prerequisite before the club can push decisively for a new No.9. Until that file is resolved, every incoming deal remains stuck in a holding pattern.

As the transfer window ticks towards its conclusion, the clock is now as much an opponent as rival clubs. Juventus know their next centre-forward could shape Spalletti’s debut season in Turin. The question is whether they can clear the decks in time to land the striker they really want.