The corridors at Continassa have gone quiet on the Kolo Muani front, but the rumour mill in Turin has found a new cog. GoalZaza understands that Juven...
The corridors at Continassa have gone quiet on the Kolo Muani front, but the rumour mill in Turin has found a new cog. GoalZaza understands that Juventus have revisited their interest in AC Milan centre back Fikayo Tomori, roughly a year and a half after initial talks stalled. But here's the kicker: the Bianconeri are not walking into this one with an open chequebook. There is a condition.Let's cut through the noise. Thiago Motta's defensive rebuild has been a mixed bag. Bremer remains the bedrock, but the supporting cast has lacked the blistering recovery pace that the modern high line demands. Tomori, with his explosive acceleration and comfort in transitional play, fits that profile like a glove. The England international has endured a fluctuating season at San Siro, sometimes finding himself behind Malick Thiaw and Matteo Gabbia in the pecking order. That slight dip in status has pricked up ears in Piedmont.However, Juventus are not in the business of throwing money at problems anymore. The one condition, as GoalZaza has learned, is financial prudence. The Old Lady wants a deal that reflects Tomori's current situation not his peak value. Think a loan with an option to buy, or a reduced fee that accounts for his sporadic game time under Paulo Fonseca. Milan, for their part, know they hold a premium asset. Do they cash in on a player who isn't guaranteed a starting spot, or do they hold firm, hoping a return to form pushes his price back upThis feels like a classic game of chicken. Juventus need a defender who can step out of a low block and snuff out counters in an instant. Tomori needs a manager who trusts him implicitly. For the player, a move down the A1 motorway might just be the reset he needs to get back into the England conversation. For the fans Squeaky bum time at both ends of the table, because this one could go right to the wire.The nuance here is that neither side is desperate, but both could use a resolution. If Juve get their way on the structure, we could see Tomori trading the red and black for the black and white stripes before the window closes. If not, Motta will have to look elsewhere for that injection of pace into his backline.
