Juventus summer plans ruined by Premier League interest

Juventus are planning major squad changes this summer as sporting director Damien Comolli aims to build a team tailored to new coach Igor Tudor.

Tudor took charge in game week 30 last season after the club dismissed Thiago Motta before the end of his first campaign. Comolli’s priority is to strengthen key areas, with signing a centre-back high on his list. AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw was among his main targets.

However, bringing in new players requires making sales, and Dusan Vlahovic was among those considered for departure.

Milan expressed interest in the Serbian striker, partly due to his previous working relationship with new AC Milan coach Max Allegri. A potential swap deal was discussed, with both clubs valuing Thiaw at €30 million.

Malick Thiaw of AC Milan in action during the pre-season friendly match between Leeds United and AC Milan at Aviva Stadium on August 09, 2025 in…

The situation changed when Premier League side Newcastle United entered the race for Thiaw, prompting Milan to increase his valuation to €40 million—a figure Juventus could not match, but Newcastle could. As a result, Thiaw now looks set for a move to England, leaving Juventus short of options.

While few concrete names have emerged in Turin, two highly-rated Serie A centre-backs—Pietro Comuzzo and Giovanni Leoni—are attracting attention across the league. However, there have been no recent links between Juventus and either player.

Another notable name in the defensive market is former Juventus player Koni De Winter. The Belgian is now expected to join AC Milan as Thiaw’s replacement. De Winter, who also worked under Allegri during his time in Turin, will earn Juventus €4 million via a sell-on clause from his original transfer.