Juventus Closing In on Kolo Muani as Breakthrough Hints Arise
The clock is ticking in Turin. Less than a month before the new Serie A season kicks off, Juventus are still without the centre-forward Luciano Spalletti has been pushing for. The search, though, looks increasingly like it has a preferred ending – and a familiar face.
Randal Kolo Muani, who impressed in a short spell with the club last season, sits firmly at the heart of Juventus’ plans. After weeks of talks with Paris Saint-Germain, CEO Giovanni Carnevali has given the clearest indication yet that a deal is moving towards the finish line.
Asked on Wednesday what was still missing before an agreement could be reached with PSG, Carnevali’s reply was brief but telling: “I hope not a lot.” In a summer of long negotiations and guarded language, that felt like a crack of light.
A gap up front, and a name at the top of the list
Juventus’ need is obvious. Dusan Vlahovic walked away at the end of his contract on June 30, leaving Spalletti without a natural No. 9 as pre-season ramps up. Contacts with Vlahovic’s camp have not been completely severed, with the idea of a renewed agreement still hovering in the background, but the club’s recruitment department has clearly widened its scope.
Kolo Muani quickly climbed to the top of that list. On loan in Turin for the second half of the 2024-25 campaign, he struck eight goals in 16 Serie A appearances – a sharp, efficient return that convinced many inside the club that he could anchor the attack on a permanent basis.
That half-season cameo has shaped the current window. Juventus know exactly what they would be getting: a forward who can run channels, attack space, and finish, but also link play in the way Spalletti demands from his central striker.
The offer on the table
The negotiations with PSG have been anything but straightforward. The French club set a clear valuation, close to €50m, and waited. Juventus, operating within tighter financial margins, have tried to structure a deal that protects their balance sheet while still landing their man.
Reports earlier this week detailed the latest proposal from Turin: a season-long loan with an obligation to buy for €40m, plus add-ons. The bonuses, carefully layered into the package, are designed to push the total value of the transfer towards the figure PSG have been holding out for.
It is a classic modern compromise. Immediate flexibility for Juventus, long-term security for PSG, and a clear path for Kolo Muani to return to a club and a league where he has already shown he can thrive.
A striker race against time
Spalletti’s plans hinge on clarity in the No. 9 role. Systems, automatisms, relationships with wide players – all of it needs time on the training pitch. Every day without a first-choice striker feels like a missed session.
That is why Carnevali’s words matter. “I hope not a lot” is not a declaration of victory, but it is a signal that the two clubs are now working within the same frame, rather than staring at each other across a gulf in valuation.
Juventus have already seen what Kolo Muani can do in black and white. PSG know they hold an asset with a ready-made market. The numbers are on the table. The structure is clear.
Now the question is simple: does this negotiation end in time for Spalletti to build his attack around Randal Kolo Muani from day one of the 2026-27 season, or will Juventus be forced into a late, frantic reshaping of their forward line?
