Atletico Madrid are poised to spend close to €100 million this week, with agreements nearing completion for Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-In and Sporting’s Morten Hjulmand, according to reports from Italy. The Spanish club will reportedly pay €40 million for Lee, with a further €5 million in potential bonuses, and the South Korean international is expected to sign a contract extending to 2031. They are also set to acquire Hjulmand for a fee of €45 million, a player previously of interest to Juventus.
Meanwhile, a potential move for Juventus winger Nico Gonzalez to Atletico Madrid has stalled, with the two clubs remaining several million euros apart in their valuation. Reports indicate a difference of between €3-4 million exists between Juventus’ asking price and Atletico’s offer, a sum Juventus are unwilling to concede given their current financial situation. While not a complete breakdown in negotiations, the deal is described as being in a ‘frozen’ state.
Gonzalez’s focus on international commitments and his stated preference to remain at Atletico Madrid under Diego Pablo Simeone are contributing factors to the impasse. Juventus are aware of the player’s desires but are determined not to sell him for less than their valuation, with manager Massimiliano Allegri considering Gonzalez a valuable asset for the upcoming season. The situation is unlikely to progress significantly until the end of the month or into August, as Atletico Madrid prioritizes other targets.
Juventus are exploring potential outgoings to fund their own transfer activity, with defender Lloyd Kelly attracting interest from Bournemouth. Tiago Pinto, a director at Bournemouth, is known to be a long-time admirer of the English centre-back. Juventus value Kelly between €30-35 million, and a sale could provide funds to pursue other defensive targets, including Tarik Muharemovic and potentially a renewed attempt to sign Jhon Lucumí once his release clause expires on July 15th. Lucumí’s current contract with Bologna runs until 2027, adding complexity to any potential deal. Bournemouth’s recent growth and qualification for the Europa League may appeal to Kelly, who is reportedly open to a return to the Premier League.
