Zirkzee to Juventus? Sporting director reveals the state of play

Tom Weber

Updated: 24 Nov 2024 15:32 GMT
3 min read

Joshua Zirkzee, Dusan Vlahovic, Juventus — © IMAGO

Juventus sporting director Christiano Giuntoli has ruled out a January move for a striker.

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The Bianconeri are having some severe injury problems in two crucial areas of the pitch. Star centre-backs Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal have gone down with ACL injuries and will miss the rest of the season.

Up front, Juventus are without No.9 Dusan Vlahovic, who despite not suffering a serious injury on Serbia duty, is a doubt for the upcoming games and missed Saturday's clash with AC Milan.

Additionally, Arkadiusz Milik and Nicolas Gonzalez are currently out injured, leaving the Old Lady without a fit, senior central striker. This, in combination with the generally indifferent form of Vlahovic, has given rise to speculation that Juventus could dip into the striker market in January.

Juventus won't sign a striker

The ideal striker, according to media reports, would be Man Utd flop Joshua Zirkzee, who has struggled to make his mark at Old Trafford so far. He previously starred under Juve boss Thiago Motta at Bologna and could have perhaps been available on loan.

Signing a centre-back has always been viewed as a priority, however, and sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has now confirmed that the Serie A giants will not sign a striker in January.

"We are counting on recovering Milik who is solving his problems and who we think is very suited to Motta's game," he told DAZN. "At the back, however, we will have to do something because we also need someone numerically."

Regarding Vlahovic, who raised eyebrows on international duty when he said that he doesn't like the defensive work Motta asks him to do, Giuntoli played coy. "I wouldn't want to judge the words," he said. "He's having an important year, he's sacrificing himself and he's an example."