Juventus Seek Powerful No 9 as Mateta Returns to Radar

Juventus are back in the market for a classic No 9, and this time they want power as much as polish.

Calciomercato report that the club have made a physical centre-forward a priority signing as Luciano Spalletti looks to reshape his attack for the new season. The brief is clear: a striker who can attack crosses, occupy defenders and give the Bianconeri a more direct route to goal when the game turns ugly.

Joshua Zirkzee has been among the names admired, but Juventus are casting the net wider, with several Premier League profiles under close scrutiny. Sport director Frederic Massara is leading the search, weighing up options and prices as the club try to add bite without losing balance.

Mateta back on the radar

Into that picture steps Jean-Philippe Mateta.

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Crystal Palace forward has pushed himself firmly back into contention after offering his services to the Turin side. Under contract at Selhurst Park until June 2027, the Frenchman is understood to be open to a new challenge following the managerial change in south London.

His frame, penalty-box presence and work rate tick many of the boxes on Juventus’ wishlist. The club are tracking his situation closely, keeping him in the mix while they assess how their squad and budget will look in the final weeks of the window.

Mateta is not alone on the shortlist. The Bianconeri have been following a cluster of younger European forwards as they look to deepen Spalletti’s options and inject fresh competition into the front line.

Nottingham Forest’s Arnaud Kalimuendo and Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade are among the names attracting attention at the top end of the market, with Napoli also monitoring their progress. The battle for this new generation of strikers is already crowded, and Juventus know they cannot afford a misstep.

Space, money, and a crucial exit

One obstacle stands in the way of any attacking reinforcement: outgoings.

Before Juventus can move decisively for Mateta or any of the other targets, they must clear room in the squad and on the wage bill. The departure of Canadian forward Jonathan David is viewed as a key step, both financially and in terms of pure numbers in the attacking department.

Only once that deal is resolved can Massara fully commit to a new arrival.

The window is edging towards its decisive stretch. Juventus have identified the profile, drawn up the list and sounded out opportunities. Now the question is simple: can they move fast enough, and boldly enough, to land the striker who will define Spalletti’s first season in charge?