Juventus Nears Agreement for Jhon Lucumi Amid Premier League Interest

Juventus are closing on their next defensive pillar, and Jhon Lucumi has made their path far smoother than the market usually allows.

The club have reached an agreement in principle with the Bologna centre-back over a summer move, with the Colombian giving a clear and emphatic answer to the many clubs circling: he wants Turin.

Lucumi picks project over pay

According to Tuttosport, Lucumi kept Juventus at the top of his list from the start. Chelsea called. Manchester United explored the possibility. Nottingham Forest even put serious money on the table, reportedly offering around €1m net more per season than the Italians.

He walked away from that.

Instead, the 26-year-old has accepted a five-year contract worth €2.5m per season plus bonuses with Juventus, convinced by the club’s determination and the sporting project laid out in front of him. For Lucumi, the appeal is clear: a bigger stage, European football, continuity in Serie A, and a defensive line where his profile is badly needed.

He is not joining for the biggest paycheque. He is joining to climb.

World Cup showcase that changed his market

Lucumi’s rise has not come out of nowhere, but the World Cup turned steady appreciation into urgency. His commanding performances on the biggest stage pushed his reputation into a different bracket.

One night in particular stuck: a group-stage clash where he kept Cristiano Ronaldo unusually quiet. That display resonated in Turin. Luciano Spalletti took note and quickly placed Lucumi near the top of his shortlist to reinforce a backline that needs fresh legs, personality, and reliability.

From that point, Juventus’ interest stopped being theoretical. It became a plan.

Bologna hold out, but clock is ticking

Bologna knew what they had. They initially protected Lucumi with a €28m release clause, which expired in mid-July. Since then, they have set their internal valuation at a minimum of €25m.

The problem for the Rossoblu is time.

Lucumi is heading into the final ten months of his contract. Push the asking price too high, and they risk watching him walk away for nothing next summer. Accept too little, and they lose one of their best defenders without fully cashing in.

Juventus have already tested their resolve with an opening €17m bid. Bologna rejected it without hesitation, confident they can squeeze more from a club that clearly sees Lucumi as a priority.

The next offer is already being prepared in Turin.

Cabal on the table as Juve seek breakthrough

To close the gap, Juventus are ready to be creative. One option on the table is to include Juan Cabal as part of the package, using the compatriot as a makeweight to sweeten the deal and reduce the cash outlay.

For Bologna, that proposal poses a genuine dilemma: accept a lower fee but gain a player with potential, or hold firm on the valuation and gamble on a late-window standoff with a defender who has already chosen his next club.

For Juventus, the hard part is largely done. The player is convinced, the contract framework is in place, and the project has won out over the money.

Now the deal rests on numbers, egos, and the familiar brinkmanship of the summer market. Juventus believe they will get their man. The only question is how much it will cost to turn Lucumi’s decision into a signature on Bologna’s final paperwork.