Juventus are treating the coming weeks as a test of their own attacking resources before deciding whether January requires intervention. The club’s priority is to protect a season in which qualification for next year’s Champions League, through a top-four finish, carries added financial weight after the ownership’s latest capital increase.
Key takeaways
- Juventus have begun assessing potential centre-forward options for the January window, although no negotiations are under way.
- Luciano Spalletti is still seeking the right balance, while Randal Kolo Muani and Nick Woltemade have struggled to provide regular goals.
- Jeff Ekhator’s return from injury will be central to the club’s decision-making after his €18 million arrival from Genoa on 1 July.
- Mateo Retegui, Folarin Balogun and Antonio Raimondo are among the forwards being considered.
- Any January arrival will depend on departures as well as Juventus’ technical assessment of Ekhator.
Ekhator’s fitness could shape the winter plan
The first signing of the Carnevali era, Ekhator joined from Genoa for €18 million and arrived with Italy Under-21 international experience. His start, however, was interrupted almost immediately. He suffered an injury in the first summer friendly, then encountered another setback after returning to action.
Juventus expect him back with the group between late October and early November, when his first appearances in competitive matches should offer a clearer indication of what he can provide. The question is not simply whether he can play minutes, but whether he can become the physical central reference Spalletti’s side may need over the decisive months.
If Ekhator can supply that contribution, Juventus may be able to avoid a major move. If he needs more time, or if the club believe regular football would better serve his development, a loan spell before the end of the season could become an option. That scenario would make the search for another forward more pressing.
A varied shortlist for a demanding second half
Work is continuing in the background, with Juventus studying different types of striker rather than settling on a single candidate. The club are not yet at the stage of formal talks and must also connect any incoming business to potential exits, but the need for a more reliable scoring presence is being examined closely.
Retegui remains a long-standing option. He was appreciated by Juventus both before and after the club’s recent changes, and Spalletti knows him from their time with the Italy national team. Should the forward consider leaving Saudi Arabia, the coach would have first-hand knowledge of his qualities.
Balogun represents another possibility. The Monaco striker is unhappy with his situation and is open to evaluating a change during the season. Like Retegui, he would offer a more conventional penalty-area presence.
Raimondo, contracted to Bologna and currently playing for Frosinone, has a different profile. He could become especially relevant if Juventus decide that Ekhator should leave temporarily in search of greater match exposure.
For now, the final judgement belongs to Spalletti and will be made through the evidence of matches rather than urgency alone. Juventus need to understand whether their present forwards can carry the burden of a top-four chase before committing resources in January, with the club determined to avoid a costly misstep at a pivotal point in the campaign.
