With only a week of the transfer window remaining, Juventus are poised to bolster their ranks with the signing of striker Arkadiusz Milik from Marseille.
The Poland international will join the Bianconeri on an initial loan, with a view to a permanent deal worth €7 million next summer according to Tuttomercatoweb, as Massimiliano Allegri looks to reignite his unconvincing attack.
Making his return to Serie A 18 months on from leaving Napoli, Milik is a low-cost option that has already drawn questions from ex-Juventus coach Fabio Capello, who remained unconvinced that he could make a significant impact in their quest for a first Scudetto since 2020.
However, the 28-year-old departs Marseille with an impressive goalscoring record behind him, having netted 30 times in 55 appearances, whilst he also managed 38 Serie A goals across 93 games for Napoli.
In the case for the move, Milik provides Juventus with a cost-effective alternative in the style of Dusan Vlahovic, as a striker that is able to lead the line as a physical focal point and attack the space for deliveries from wingers Filip Kostic and Angel Di Maria.
With Kaio Jorge still raw and Moise Kean struggling to impress after returning to the club, Juventus are in need of attacking reinforcements and it has become increasingly apparent that Vlahovic cannot carry the burden of firing them back into Scudetto contention alone.
In Milik, they have a forward who is entering the prime of his career and is familiar with Italian football, whilst having a point to prove and is able to deputise for the Serbian star.
Indeed, he gives Allegri greater options across a long and tiring season, whilst fitting the gap left by Alvaro Morata last term.
Is Milik the right type of forward for Juventus?
Whilst Milik may be an able goalscorer and a useful deputy to Vlahovic, would Juventus have been more wise to have targeted a different type of forward?
Their attack looked stale in the 0-0 draw against Sampdoria on Monday, whilst the link-up play with midfield was lacking to an alarming degree.
With Paulo Dybala cut loose and allowed to join AS Roma on a free transfer, the Bianconeri are missing a more technical striker who can prowl between the lines and bridge that gap, and perhaps a move for a ‘No. 10’ rather than an all-out ‘No. 9’ would serve them better.
In a difficult market and with options few and far between, getting another goalscorer in is a smart piece of business and Milik has the capacity to chip in with goals across the campaign.
