Igor Tudor tells Juventus to offload €20m-rated defender

Juventus are determined to recover the €20 million they spent on Lloyd Kelly after converting his loan move from Newcastle United into a permanent transfer.

The club is already working on possible replacements, with Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior and Wolfsburg’s Konstantinos Koulierakis identified as top candidates to bolster the defensive line.

Konstantinos Koulierakis of Wolfsburg in action during the pre-season friendly match between Feyenoord and VfL Wolfsburg at Phillips Stadium on…

Kelly made 19 appearances for Juventus, including four at the Club World Cup, but failed to establish himself under new head coach Igor Tudor.

The English defender was originally brought in at the request of former coach Thiago Motta as cover for the injured Gleison Bremer. However, Motta’s departure and Tudor’s arrival signaled a change in direction.

Tudor, unconvinced by Kelly’s performances, has reportedly asked general manager Damien Comolli to move the player on and reallocate the funds elsewhere—specifically to pursue a permanent deal for forward Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain.

Juventus secured Kelly’s services in early 2025 through a loan-to-buy deal worth approximately €15–20 million including bonuses. The defender completed medicals, overcame work permit delays, and was officially registered by early February.

Lloyd Kelly of Juventus during the pre-season friendly with Reggiana at Jtc on August 2, 2025 in Turin, Italy.

Despite high hopes, his performances were met with heavy criticism from fans and pundits alike, with many calling him one of the most disappointing signings in recent club history.

Now, with just over a week remaining before the Premier League kicks off, Juventus are pushing to resolve Kelly’s future quickly.

Ideally, they hope to sell him back to an English club in order to recoup the majority of their investment and free up squad space.

Fan reactions have reflected growing frustration with the move, as many questioned the decision to invest heavily in a player who had arrived on a free transfer just months earlier at Newcastle.

As for replacements, Juventus are reportedly eyeing Jakub Kiwior, who previously played in Serie A with Spezia before joining Arsenal.

Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Pre-Season Friendly match between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at Kai Tak Sports Park on July…

The Polish international is viewed as an immediate solution, although his transfer could be complicated by interest from other clubs, including Porto.

Koulierakis, a 21-year-old Greek centre-back currently at Wolfsburg, is seen as a high-upside long-term option. He is left-footed, has already earned multiple caps for Greece, and fits the physical profile Tudor is believed to prefer in central defenders.

Kelly is not the only high-profile player Juventus are aiming to offload. Dušan Vlahović has been made available, with AC Milan showing strong interest in the Serbian striker.

Meanwhile, Douglas Luiz is attracting interest from Nottingham Forest. These potential sales form part of a broader strategy to reduce the club’s wage bill and reinvest in key areas of the squad.