Italian giants Juventus are eyeing Nigeria international Raphael Onyedika as a potential replacement for outgoing midfielder Douglas Luiz, as the club begins preparations for a midfield reshuffle ahead of the 2024/25 season.
Luiz, who joined the Bianconeri from Aston Villa last summer in a deal worth sixty million dollars, is reportedly close to leaving Turin after struggling to make an impact in his debut campaign. The Brazilian made just nineteen appearances and started only three matches throughout the season. Under new manager Igor Tudor, he featured for a mere thirty seven minutes in the final nine league games.
With Manuel Locatelli now favoured in the holding midfield role, Juventus have decided to listen to offers for Luiz. Despite being under contract until 2029, the club has reportedly set a price tag of forty million dollars for his services.
Everton are among the clubs showing interest in Luiz, but Juventus are already moving ahead in identifying his replacement. One of their top targets is Onyedika, a key player at Belgian side Club Brugge. Reports from Italy indicate that Juventus scouts recently travelled to monitor the 24 year old Nigerian during a league match.
FootItalia reported that Juventus are taking a proactive approach, stating, “Juventus sent scouts to watch Club Brugge gem Raphael Onyedika, with the pretext that they may be forced to find a replacement for Luiz.”
Onyedika has become a mainstay at Brugge since joining the Belgian outfit three years ago and has drawn interest from several top European clubs, including AC Milan and Atalanta. Juventus, however, are confident in their chances due to their strong working relationship with his representatives, CAA Stellar, the same agency that manages Arkadiusz Milik and new signing Pierre Kalulu.
Although Everton were also linked with Onyedika earlier in the transfer window, their recent focus has shifted to Luiz, potentially clearing the path for Juventus to make a move. With one year left on his current contract, Onyedika is valued at around thirty five million dollars. Brugge are open to selling now to avoid losing the player for free next summer.
Sources in Belgium suggest that Onyedika is eager to make the leap to a bigger club and prove himself on a larger stage. Juventus are expected to accelerate discussions with Club Brugge in the coming days, especially as Luiz’s potential exit becomes more imminent.
For Juventus, who are operating under tight financial conditions, a deal for Onyedika represents both immediate midfield quality and long term value. If secured, the move would not only bolster their squad but also extend their history of investing in promising African talent.
