Juventus are strongly interested in signing Bologna defender Jhon Lucumi, with the player’s recent performance for Colombia against Uzbekistan further solidifying the club’s belief in his suitability for coach Luciano Spalletti’s system. Lucumi demonstrated maturity in the match, reinforcing a pre-existing assessment of his qualities by the Turin club.
Spalletti is said to admire Lucumi not only for his technical ability but also his character, noting his willingness to engage in duels – a trait displayed during a Serie A match between Juventus and Bologna where he actively sought confrontation with Juventus’ Joao Cancelo. This characteristic aligns with the profile of players Spalletti is seeking to build his squad around. Lucumi’s ability to quickly initiate attacks and cover space is also highly valued, filling a long-standing need for a left-footed central defender at Juventus.
While Lloyd Kelly has occupied that role this season, he has shown defensive vulnerabilities, potentially leading to a shift in position for the Englishman to left-back, replacing Andrea Cambiaso. However, Spalletti is also considering a more defensively-minded full-back to provide better cover for Kenan Yildiz. Lucumi is currently contracted to Bologna with a release clause of €28 million, valid until mid-July.
Juventus are exploring the possibility of structuring a payment plan for the transfer fee, leveraging their good relationship with Bologna, previously demonstrated in the swap deal involving Riccardo Orsolini and Stefan Holm. The savings from not exercising the option to buy Holm, amounting to €18 million, could be allocated towards the Lucumi deal. However, Juventus must act quickly, as Roma and several Premier League clubs are also monitoring the Colombian international. Alternatives considered by Juventus include Radu Dragusin, Tarik Muharemović, and John Stones, but Lucumi remains the priority. The potential departures of Bremer and Federico Gatti could further accelerate Juventus’s pursuit of Lucumi.
