After falling to land striker Fernando Llorente from Athletic Bilbao this summer, Juventus are expected to come back with a new offer of €6M-€7M when the January transfer window opens.
Juventus fans have been crying out for a top striker since the summer and when you look at the statistics it is amazing that Juventus are top of the league. Of the 31 goals they have scored this season, in all competitions, 17 have came from the midfield.
Juventus strikers have only scored 12 goals this season, 4 from Vucinic and Quagliarella, 3 from Giovinco (none were actually decisive) and 1 by Matri (he’s only scored 4 times in all of 2012).
Even Vucinic’s four are misleading. He hasn’t scored a goal in Serie A since September 16.
So it is pretty clear that Antonio Conte’s side needs help in attack if they are to have any hope of retaining the Scudetto.
And the person that Conte and Juventus transfer guru Marotta have targeted is Fernando Llorente. Juventus are reportedly already at an advanced stage of discussions with his representatives. The Spaniard is out of contract with Athletic Bilbao at the end of the season, and his club are slowing starting to realise that it might be in their best interest to sell him in January for around €6M-€7M rather than lose him on a free transfer at the end of the season.
Llorente has been top of Antonio Conte’s wish list for some time now. And the need for Juve to sign someone like him is becoming increasingly evident. Meanwhile, Marotta and Paratici will continue to keep a close eye on the situation at Roma, where Osvaldo and Destro could be surplus to requirements. Juve would be able to offer a player deal involving Alessandro Matri or Fabio Quagliarella.
