According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are in contact with Atletico Madrid regarding changes to their attacking line, with Jonathan David potentially leaving and Zirkzee remaining a potential candidate.
Atletico Madrid are embroiled in the question of Julian Alvarez's future, having already inquired with Juventus about their willingness to release striker Jonathan David. Meanwhile, Juventus are also in talks with Atletico Madrid striker Sørloth, and Zirkzee remains on their transfer list.
Jonathan David, whose performance last season fell short of expectations and who only scored three goals in the World Cup match against Qatar, has never hidden his desire to continue fighting for opportunities in Turin. He believes he can still change Spalletti's mind. Although Spalletti was initially optimistic about him last season, he later felt that he lacked aggression in the penalty area and was not good at protecting the ball with his back to goal.
If he ultimately leaves, Jonathan David hopes to join a top club. Given that he was the second-highest scorer among players born after 2000, second only to Haaland, before joining Juventus, Atletico Madrid's contact comes against this backdrop. Atletico Madrid is currently also embroiled in the situation with Alvarez; the player wants to go to Barcelona, but the club is unwilling to let him go. Atletico Madrid did not make an offer this time, but only inquired about the feasibility of the deal.
Jonathan David joined Juventus from Lille on a free transfer. His departure would bring Juventus a net profit and free up salary space to sign a new center forward. He currently earns €6 million annually after tax plus bonuses, making him the second-highest paid player in the team after Yildiz. Yildiz's injuries have also forced Canevalli and Massara to expedite the process of signing a striker for Spalletti.
However, it will be very difficult for Spanish clubs to directly buy him outright. Atletico Madrid has already spent over €140 million on Juventus' number 30, only to recoup slightly more than €50 million. Between Madrid and Turin, Nico González and Sørloth are still frequently mentioned names, but the two sides seem irreconcilable: Atletico Madrid's offer for the Argentine has been consistently low, and Spalletti was actually willing to keep the number 10 after his injury; for Sørloth, Atletico Madrid is asking for as much as €40 million. If Simeone loans Jonathan David and covers his full salary, Juventus will have a chance to push forward with Manchester United's Zirkzee, also attempting a loan signing. Zirkzee may not be the kind of powerful center forward Spalletti specifically wants, but at least it would balance the books. Juventus now only has six days left to complete this complex attacking puzzle.
