It’s no secret Juventus need more firepower in the attack, as Cristiano Ronaldo is their only regular goalscorer.
The Portuguese star has done fabulously well this season, scoring 28 league goals despite limited support. His feats alone have kept Juve on course for another Serie A title. But if they’re to challenge for greater things, he’ll need better support.
Doubts over Gonzalo Higuain’s future, meanwhile, continue to be shrouded in doubt. The Argentine’s best days are behind him, with La Gazzetta dello Sport claiming an exit could be imminent. The Italian outlet suggests he could head to Fiorentina as part of an exchange for Federico Chiesa.
But while the 22-year-old is certainly a magnificent player, Ronaldo could do with someone similar to Karim Benzema.
So what other forwards could be available for Juve instead? Let’s check it out here.
Arkadiusz Milik – SSC Napoli
A summer exit for Arkadiusz Milik appears imminent after Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso admitted the striker is keen for a change.
Furthermore, Maurizio Sarri is reportedly keen on linking up with him in Turin. The Juventus boss signed Milik for Napoli in 2016, but the Pole’s injury problems restricted his minutes. But it evidently hasn’t dampened Sarri’s opinion of him.
Tottenham and Atletico Madrid are also pursuing Milik for a summer move, as per the latest reports.
Mario Mandzukic – Free Agent
This one is a long shot, but Sarri should never have allowed Mandzukic to leave Juventus in the first place.
The former Chelsea boss favoured Gonzalo Higuain right from the start and left Mandzukic out in the cold. Omitting him from the Bianconeri’s Champions League squad was the last straw.
But out of all the strikers in Turin, Mandzukic arguably had the best chemistry with Ronaldo. He’s also a free agent after leaving the Doha-based Al-Duhail Sports Club.
“Everyone knows he [Cristiano Ronaldo] is an incredible player and works so hard on improving himself. I really enjoyed playing with him, as we understood each other perfectly,” said Mandzukic in January.
The Croatian has even got a bit of a reputation for bringing out the best of his teammates on the pitch despite rarely being the star man.
Of course, Mandzukic’s selfless all-round play, physical presence and work rate was used to great effect under Massimiliano Allegri last season.
Patrik Schick – RB Leipzig
If Juventus want someone capable of drifting deep and playing a part in the offensive build-up, then Patrik Schick could be a good call.
The 24-year-old spent this season on loan at RB Leipzig from AS Roma, thriving in a centre-forward role under Julian Nagelsmann. He finished with 10 goals in 22 Bundesliga appearances.
Aside from his scoring abilities, Schick has great ball control skills. He can also drop deep into attack, receiving the ball and feeding his teammates in. This could be a useful trait for Ronaldo, who needs better support upfront. No doubt, he misses the days of Benzema dropping back and creating space for him at Real Madrid.
But while Schick’s loan deal ended last month, Leipzig still retain a reported €29m buy option on him for this summer. Although they haven’t activated yet.
