Calafiori remains Juve top priority, Giuntoli eyes Plan B

Juve’s primary target for defence remains Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, but the club face challeneges in securing a deal.  Calafiori has reportedly already agreed terms with the club on a five-year contract worth approximately €2 million per season, but the move could complicated.

Tuttosport report that one significant obstacle in Juve’s pursuit of Calafiori is the “Basel issue.” Bologna are eager to retain Calafiori, and complicating matters further, the Swiss club Basel holds a 50% stake in the future resale value of the player, including any player exchanges. Juventus’s sporting director, Cristiano Giuntoli, along with his counterpart at Bologna, Giovanni Sartori, are negotiating this tricky situation. They are considering offering players such as Fabio Miretti, Hans Nicolussi Caviglia, and Tommaso Barbieri in exchange. However, this arrangement means Bologna would owe Basel a portion of the value of these player trades, complicating the financials since they wouldn’t actually receive cash.

Should the pursuit of Calafiori prove too cumbersome, Juventus has identified a Plan B. The alternative is Jakub Kiwior, a defender who developed under Thiago Motta at Spezia before moving to Arsenal. Kiwior is not deemed indispensable by the Gunners and is valued at around €20 million. This potential move could provide Juventus with the defensive solidity they seek if the Calafiori deal falls through.