Juventus Seek New No.9 as Spalletti Challenges Kolo Muani
Juventus may have beaten Frosinone, but the final whistle did nothing to calm Luciano Spalletti. Three points in the bag, a storm brewing on the touchline.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the coach walked away from the narrow win with one thought dominating everything else: this attack still doesn’t convince him. The number nine issue, parked but never solved, has crashed back onto the agenda at Continassa.
Missed chances, rising tension
Juventus created enough to kill the game early. They didn’t. Chance after chance slipped away, and with each miss, Spalletti’s frustration grew more visible.
At the centre of it all: Randal Kolo Muani.
Signed for a significant fee and entrusted with leading the line, the Frenchman squandered clear openings and stalled Juventus’ attacking rhythm. The performance did not just irritate his coach; it sharpened doubts that had been lurking for months.
Spalletti did not hide behind politeness afterward. He went straight for the point and for the player. “Randal also needs to realise that if he hasn't been playing for two years, there's a reason why,” he said, a blunt reminder that reputation and transfer fees do not guarantee minutes under him.
The message was clear. Standards must rise, and fast.
Old problem, new urgency
Juventus’ search for a reliable focal point in attack is not new. Previous pursuits of Lois Openda and Jonathan David exposed how difficult it has been to secure the right profile. Each failed move left the squad with options, but not the ruthless, penalty-box predator Spalletti craves.
Now, with the transfer window ticking towards its close, that gap feels critical. The new leadership at the club has made the centre-forward position a priority, and Spalletti’s public irritation has only added pressure to act.
Juventus don’t just want another forward. They want a specialist. A finisher who lives in the area, dominates physically, and turns half-chances into goals.
Sorloth top of the list, Zirkzee as alternative
That is why attention has turned firmly towards Atletico Madrid striker Alexander Sorloth.
The Norwegian has hit the 20-goal mark or better in each of his last three seasons, a level of consistency that instantly appeals to a club desperate for reliability in front of goal. He offers exactly what Spalletti feels is missing: a classic number nine, strong in the box, direct, and decisive.
Work has already restarted at Continassa on a possible deal. The idea on the table: a swap involving winger Nico Gonzalez, who is open to a move to Madrid. It would be a bold reshaping of the attack, trading wide creativity for central punch.
If that path closes, another name remains in play – Joshua Zirkzee of Manchester United.
Zirkzee brings a very different profile. Less of a pure finisher, more of a creative forward who drifts, links play, and opens spaces rather than simply attacking them. He would change how Juventus build their attacks, not just how they finish them.
For Spalletti, though, the priority is clear: penalty-box presence first, stylistic variety second.
Clock ticking on Juventus’ attacking gamble
As the window winds down, Juventus can no longer afford hesitation. They know what this season demands. Breaking down low blocks, grinding out tight games, turning dominance into goals – all of it becomes harder without a dependable striker.
Inside the club, landing a proven goalscorer is seen as the final major piece in this rebuild. The rest of the structure is there. The system, the defensive base, the wide options. What’s missing is the man to finish the moves when the pressure is highest.
Whether that solution arrives in the shape of Sorloth’s power or Zirkzee’s flair, one thing is non-negotiable: Spalletti wants his new number nine now.
The next few days will reveal if Juventus can finally end their long search for a true leader of the line – or if this season begins with the same nagging question hanging over their attack.
