Juventus Urgently Seeks Striker as Transfer Window Closes

Juventus are back on the hunt for a striker. Not quietly, not in the background – urgently.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that, despite three points against Frosinone, Luciano Spalletti walked away from the touchline more irritated than relieved. His team created enough to win comfortably. They did not. The waste in front of goal dragged an old problem back into the spotlight: Juventus still don’t trust their number nine.

This is not a new story in Turin. Previous pursuits of Lois Openda and Jonathan David never truly solved the issue, and the sense of a lingering void through the middle has followed the club into this window. With the market edging towards its final days, the new hierarchy at Continassa has been forced into a late, decisive push to reshape the attack.

Spalletti’s patience snaps with Kolo Muani

The frustration on Sunday had a clear target: Randal Kolo Muani.

Signed for a significant fee and expected to lead the line, the Frenchman squandered a series of chances against Frosinone, stalling Juventus’ rhythm and leaving their coach seething. The performance cut through Spalletti’s tolerance.

He did not sugar-coat it afterward. Calling out the striker’s trajectory, Spalletti delivered a blunt reminder of recent seasons: “Randal also needs to realise that if he hasn't been playing for two years, there's a reason why.” It was a public warning and a demand for a higher level from a player brought in to decide tight games, not complicate them.

The message was unmistakable. Juventus cannot go into the heart of the season with this much uncertainty at centre-forward.

Sorloth at the top of the list

That is why Spalletti has fixed his gaze on Alexander Sorloth.

The Atletico Madrid forward offers exactly what the coach feels his side lack: physical presence, penalty-box authority, a classic reference point for the attack. Across the last three seasons, the Norwegian has consistently hit the 20-goal mark, a reliability that stands in sharp contrast to the current profligacy in black and white.

At Continassa, Juventus have intensified work on a possible swap deal. The proposal revolves around Nico Gonzalez, with the winger open to a move to Madrid. The structure of such an exchange is complex, but the intent is clear: turn a surplus wide option into a ruthless finisher.

If that path closes, another door remains slightly ajar.

Zirkzee the alternative profile

Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee is being kept in play as a late-window alternative. He is not a like-for-like option. Where Sorloth offers brute force and penalty-box instincts, Zirkzee brings a more creative, link-up style, dropping off the line and stitching moves together rather than simply finishing them.

That contrast matters. Choosing between them is not just about numbers; it would define how Juventus attack for the rest of the season. A traditional spearhead in Sorloth, or a more fluid, roaming focal point in Zirkzee.

For Spalletti, the priority is less philosophical and more practical: he wants a striker who turns pressure into goals.

Countdown to a decisive call

Time is running out. The summer window is ticking towards its close, and Juventus know this decision will shape their campaign.

Inside the club, the belief is that a proven scorer is the final missing piece, the element that can unlock packed defences and turn narrow, nervy wins into controlled, professional victories. The coach has made his stance unmistakable. The board now has days, not weeks, to match that demand.

Whether the solution arrives in the form of Sorloth’s penalty-box muscle or Zirkzee’s subtle craft, one thing is certain: Juventus cannot afford to reach the season’s decisive stretch still asking the same old question about their number nine.