Paris is asking around 60-70 million for Randal, a figure that Comolli cannot match. Who could replace him? Openda could be the right name, but there are also other options

Randal Kolo Muani’s long summer is not over yet. From a fairy tale ending to a never-ending story, with the danger of unpleasant surprises, sometimes the market moves too quickly: negotiations that have been going on for a long time and only needed a few details to be finalized can suddenly fall through, because it is often the details that make the difference, especially when it comes to money. So Juventus finds itself less than ten days before the transfer window closes still hanging by a thread and with the tangible risk of not being able to give Igor Tudor the player he wants most, the only one specifically requested by the coach to complete the attack. The Bianconeri were so confident of getting their man, thanks to their good relationship with PSG and the striker’s desire to join the club (he has long been committed to the Old Lady), that they had not even considered a plan B. However, the French club is not only continuing to play for time but is also asking for more than the amount allocated by the Juventus management, and under these conditions, everything has become much more complicated. No one at the Madama headquarters has given up hope of reaching an agreement, but there is inevitably a little more pessimism than in the past. That is why other profiles are also being evaluated, from Openda to Nkunku to Jackson.
“Kolo Muani wants to come back and play for us, we’re working on it,” Damien Comolli said at the end of July, sounding positive. In reality, there have been many frequent contacts in just over 20 days, but this has not been enough to convince PSG, who still consider Kolo Muani to be on his way out but only want to sell him on their terms. Juventus, for its part, is convinced that it has made every effort to satisfy the Parisians: the proposal includes a loan (of $10 million) with an option to buy in 2026 set at $35-40 million plus bonuses. A €50 million deal, considered a fair price for the Bianconeri, who, in order to turn the loan into a permanent transfer, have been given the go-ahead by John Elkann to sign the striker regardless of the fate of Dusan Vlahovic (the Serbian has a contract expiring in a year, is on the market but is digging his heels in to stay). However, PSG are not satisfied and are now raising the stakes, asking for between €60 and €70 million. On this basis, it is difficult to negotiate: Juventus are realizing that if they do not change the cards on the table (read: millions), they will have to give up.

Plan B—Kolo Muani has always been considered a sure thing by Igor Tudor, and if he doesn’t arrive, the club will have to rethink all its plans. The idea is to sign another striker, not a classic center forward (already having Vlahovic, in addition to new signing Jonathan David), but someone who can play in the middle and also on the wing. Someone like Kolo Muani, in fact. A last-minute deal will be needed, one that is convincing from both a technical and financial point of view. The ideal would be to secure a loan with an option to buy. Ademola Lookman is a player who has been liked for some time but is expensive and difficult to sign (Inter know this all too well), while Rasmus Hojlund is also liked but is being targeted by Napoli. Edon Zhegrova remains a valid option, whom Juventus was already following in the event of Nico Gonzalez’s departure, although Lille president Letang has reiterated that he would like to keep him. The right name could be Lois Openda, provided that Leipzig is willing to sell him after already losing Benjamin Sesko. Nicolas Jackson of Chelsea is on his way out, having already been sounded out before the purchase of David, who is, however, very close to Aston Villa. Christopher Nkunku, also of Chelsea, has been offered in the last few hours.