Old Lady look to London for a lethal weapon

Juventus have rediscovered their spark in the last two Serie A matches, scoring a combined eight goals against Sassuolo and Cremonese. Still, there is a real concern that the attacking form shown in those games could prove to be an exception rather than a rule, and that such a goal-scoring rhapsody is no guarantee of sustained consistency.

For that reason, it would be advisable for the Old Lady to secure at least one attacking reinforcement before the end of the January transfer window.

Juventus are exploring options to strengthen their frontline and are keeping an increasingly close eye on the Premier League market. The name that has emerged in recent hours is Jean-Philippe Mateta, the Crystal Palace striker, who is seen in Turin as a potential solution not only for the immediate needs of the squad but also with an eye on next season.

Juventus are already thinking long term, especially with a separation from Dusan Vlahovic expected in the summer. As a result, they are considering the signing of a forward who could remain part of the project in the 2026/27 campaign, and Mateta fits that profile.

He is physically strong, experienced, and well accustomed to the demands of English football. This season he has scored eight goals in 21 Premier League appearances, continuing an impressive run after netting 14 and 16 goals in the previous two seasons.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, initial contacts between the two sides have already been established, with Juventus submitting a first enquiry to learn about the conditions of a potential transfer. Crystal Palace are not keen on letting their striker go easily and are asking for between 30 and 35 million euros for a January departure. At first glance, that fee appears quite reasonable, especially given that in modern football strikers with only a handful of goals in a season often command prices of 25–30 million euros.

In the meantime, the move has also received the green light from Luciano Spalletti. The Bianconeri coach has voiced his approval of the potential transfer, as he holds Mateta’s qualities in high regard and believes he could fit well into Juventus’ system.

The Old Lady are currently joint fourth and fifth in Serie A alongside Roma, while in the Champions League they sit among the group of teams on nine points, occupying positions between 16th and 20th. In the final two rounds of the elite competition, the Turin giants will host Benfica and travel to Monaco.