Juventus Target Jhon Lucumí as Bologna Prepares for Key Negotiations
Juventus have moved to the front of the queue for Jhon Lucumí, striking an agreement in principle with the Bologna defender and edging towards a deal that could reshape Luciano Spalletti’s back line.
The Colombian has given the Bianconeri a clear yes. Personal terms are in place: a five-year contract worth €2.5 million per season plus bonuses. Nottingham Forest put more money on the table – around €1 million net per year more – and Chelsea and Manchester United tested the ground with initial enquiries. Lucumí still chose Juventus.
He has gone for stage over salary. The pull of a bigger club, the guarantee of European football and the chance to stay in Serie A have outweighed the Premier League pay rise. For a defender in his prime, the move offers visibility, pressure, and the kind of platform that can define an international career.
Spalletti’s priority target
This is not a speculative move from Turin. Spalletti identified Lucumí as a priority after his commanding World Cup performances, when he marshalled his back line with authority and, notably, kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet on the biggest stage. That tournament form hardened Juventus’ conviction: this is a defender who can handle scrutiny and stars.
Contacts with Bologna are already under way. Juventus have the player’s word; now they need the club’s.
The final hurdle: Bologna’s price
The negotiation has shifted from the player’s will to Bologna’s valuation. The Rossoblù set Lucumí’s price at a minimum of €25 million after his €28 million release clause expired in mid-July. Losing that clause has changed the dynamic. Bologna now have room to negotiate, but not to posture.
Lucumí’s contract runs out in 10 months. That clock is loud. Push too hard, and Bologna risk watching their defensive leader walk away for nothing next summer. So the €25 million stance is firm, but not immovable. It is a line drawn with one eye on the balance sheet and the other on the calendar.
Juventus know it. They hold the agreement with the player and the leverage of time. Bologna hold the registration and the knowledge that replacing a defensive leader this late is never simple.
One side will have to blink. With Lucumí already picturing himself in black and white, the pressure on Bologna’s resolve grows by the day.
