The Bianconeri have been sniffing around the Ennio Tardini for a centre forward, a search that has become something of a saga in Turin this summer. Go...
The Bianconeri have been sniffing around the Ennio Tardini for a centre forward, a search that has become something of a saga in Turin this summer. GoalZaza understands that the first formal offer, a figure believed to be a modest opening gambit, has been batted away by the Ducali. You do not simply roll up and prise away Parma's prized asset without a proper fight, and the Serie B side have made that abundantly clear.For Juventus, the need for a mobile, physical presence through the middle has been glaring since the departure of a certain veteran target man. Thiago Motta needs a profile who can lead the line, hold the ball up against a low block, and offer genuine menace in transitional moments. Pellegrino fits that bill: he is a player who can unsettle centre halves, run the channels, and offers a decent return on clinical finishing for his age. But Parma, sitting on a developing asset, are playing hardball. They know the market for a striker with his raw attributes is not exactly saturated, and they are squeezing every last euro out of the Old Lady's negotiators.Is this a simple case of a club testing the water, or is there a deeper reluctance at Continassa to splash the cash The reported rejection suggests Juve were perhaps hoping to strike a bargain early, banking on the player's desire to move up a division. Instead, they have been told, politely but firmly, to come back with a better number. This is the stuff of a long, drawn out summer window, and the next move will be telling. If Juventus truly believe Pellegrino is the man to solve their attacking conundrum, they will need to stop dithering and put a proper bid on the table. If not, well, the phone will ring for other targets. Either way, the ball is now firmly in the court of the Motta project, and the clock is ticking on this particular transfer merry go round.
