According to Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus is accelerating its pursuit of Kessie.

Franck Kessie requires extra time to negotiate, and Juventus is willing to invest that time because the club wants to cross the finish line with its head held high. Juventus first engaged with the Ivorian midfielder's agent, and now they will speak directly with Kessie, who had a distinguished career at Atalanta and AC Milan in Italy. Today is set to be a decisive day—at least that is what is expected—as Juventus vice-president and general manager Giovanni Carnevali and sporting director Frederik Massara will have in-depth discussions with Kessie himself. The reasoning is straightforward: bypassing the agent means going straight to the heart of the matter, which is also true in this negotiation, so that obstacles can be cleared and an agreement can be reached without interference from intermediaries. Juventus will do everything possible to provide manager Luciano Spalletti with the most suitable candidate. Currently, the midfield needs strengthening, and a leader capable of stabilizing the situation is needed to make this somewhat unstable area more solid.

Bypassing the Agent

There are many concerns about Juventus's new midfield setup, both in terms of fitness and tactics. The fitness issue primarily concerns Khéphren Thuram, who has been largely absent from team training throughout August and beyond. Spalletti said on the eve of a match: "Yes, I am concerned. This problem hasn't gone away. The boy has been forced to miss all activities these months..." Thuram is not yet an option for tonight's match against Parma. Tactically, there is the ongoing situation with Teun Koopmeiners, whom the club has listed for departure, but no suitors have emerged in Italy or Europe; and Douglas Luiz, whom Spalletti praised today, but whose future is uncertain because the Brazilian midfielder's rhythm of play is still being tested. Thuram continues to be a concern, while Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz need to prove themselves at every step. Juventus's new midfield needs reinforcement, so securing Kessie at the last moment has become the transfer window's priority in these final hours. This path is difficult, but it is essential for those who want to advance with greater confidence through a long season.

Full of Confidence

Extra time is allowed, but without penalties: at Continassa training ground, Juventus will attempt to convince Kessie to accept before tomorrow to avoid having to search for an alternative in the final 48 hours of negotiations. Roma has withdrawn from the race, which is a significant advantage: Roma also had eyes on Kessie, and although the conditions they offered were slightly higher than Juventus's, that offer was not enough to sway a player who was interested in and attracted to Spalletti's coaching style. The numbers are clear: Roma offered 4 million euros, while Juventus offered an annual salary of 3.5 million euros over two years, plus a renewal option for a third year. Juventus has long known Kessie's preferences and understands that Turin is his priority, so today's direct conversations could yield the results that Carnevali and Massara are hoping for.

Problems Throughout the Summer

Thuram is a concern, Koopmeiners cannot find an appropriate next destination, and Douglas Luiz is competing with Manuel Locatelli and the versatile substitute Weston McKennie for consistent playing time. In this context, Kessie has become a lifeline thanks to his excellent experience, leadership, adaptability, and fighting spirit: at 29 years old, after spending three seasons in Saudi Arabia, his return to Italy as a former AC Milan player would be highly significant for Juventus's midfield formation. Thuram remains a concern because his knee has not fully recovered, although he prepared individually throughout the summer to address injuries and eliminate any hidden issues. Koopmeiners is also attracting attention from the Saudi league, from which Kessie has just departed, but the Dutchman, now in his third season at Juventus, is not drawn to Saudi Arabia and has few remaining chips to spend in Turin. Douglas Luiz has earned Spalletti's confidence, though August football often obscures the truth, frequently pointing in one of two directions: today the Brazilian is a starter, but if he wants to remain one in the coming months, he must begin to run faster as requested by the manager. Kessie can solve problems, and he can solve many of them: the price his agent is asking is not low—far from the 7 million euros Juventus initially put on the table—so Juventus can only rely on direct talks with a player eager to return to Serie A.

Traduzido por IA.

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