Kolo Muani or Richarlison: Juventus's dilemma

Juventus' search for attacking reinforcements in the summer window has expanded to include an unexpected name. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Italian giants have opened talks with Tottenham over Brazilian forward Richarlison; the 29-year-old is available for €20-25 million. The origin of the link carries an interesting story: Juventus CEO Giovanni Carnevali's close relationship with Roberto De Zerbi, whom he knows from their Sassuolo days and who now leads Tottenham, was initially used to discuss goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario's situation; Richarlison's name emerged during those talks.

The player's standing at Tottenham reinforces this scenario. With his contract running until 2027 and no intention to renew, Richarlison is reported to be available for sale by Tottenham before the end of August. However, Juventus' top target remains Randal Kolo Muani: in ongoing negotiations with PSG, the Italian club has offered €40 million while the Paris side are asking for €50 million. Should those talks fail, Richarlison stands out as the most concrete alternative, alongside Alexander Sørloth (Atletico Madrid) and Folarin Balogun (Monaco).

Richarlison's performances further justify the interest. The Brazilian star, who scored 12 goals last season — seven more than his then-teammate Kolo Muani — was notably left out of Brazil's World Cup squad by head coach Carlo Ancelotti. This detail also raises questions over the uncertainty in the player's international career; Fenerbahce are also reported to have shown interest in Richarlison.

In a parallel file, Juventus' goalkeeper search continues. Their top target, Emiliano Martinez, saw a loan proposal worth around €6.5 million (below Aston Villa's €12 million asking price) rejected, which has pushed Vicario forward as an alternative — the two files being so closely intertwined illustrates just how multifaceted Juventus' summer strategy has become.

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport
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