Juventus prepare market return: Spalletti demands physical striker

Juventus plan January market activity for a physical striker after Woltemade's loan lacks a purchase option; Sorloth and Balogun are targets.

Juventus have invested €240m in strikers over six years but currently have only Woltemade available as a centre-forward on loan, with no option to buy. With Kolo Muani now deployed on the wing, the club faces a January transfer window necessity to add attacking depth.

Manager Spalletti explicitly requested a physical number nine in February, previously targeting Mateta and Icardi. Current options under consideration include Atlético Madrid's Alexander Sorloth, a Norwegian international who has struggled for minutes (155 total across all competitions) and could be available on loan before his contract expires in 18 months.

Monaco's Folarin Balogun, who impressed at the World Cup but is playing limited minutes, is another possibility as the Ligue 1 club seeks liquidity.

Other names mentioned include Benjamin Sesko (expensive at €7m annually) and Mateo Retegui, though the latter's €20m annual salary and Saudi Arabia tax residency requirements complicate any deal. Bologna's Antonio Raimondo, currently on loan at Frosinone, is not a January option due to injury and the Frosinone club's need to retain him for their survival battle.