Juventus are reportedly targeting Liverpool defender Giovanni Leoni and Frosinone goalkeeper Lorenzo Palmisani in 2027 as part of a longer-term plan to strengthen the club’s Italian core. The interest is reportedly in line with the Bianconeri’s wider rebuilding phase, rather than pointing to immediate additions.
Football Italia, reporting from La Gazzetta dello Sport, identify both players among the Italian talents Juventus hope to recruit in the coming windows. The report describes the direction of planning, pending transfers: it does not say that Juventus have made deals or formal offers for either player.
Why does Juventus want a stronger Italian core?
The source points to a striking recent example: Juventus started their last two matches before the international break without an Italian winger and did the same against Sassuolo on September 13. Injuries to Manuel Locatelli and Andrea Cambiaso contributed, but the report said the first-team squad was relatively short on Italian-born options.
First-team regulars Italians Cambiaso, Federico Gatti, Locatelli, Daniele Rugani and Jeff Ekhator are listed alongside goalkeepers Guglielmo Vicario and Carlo Pinsoglio. The report lists Vicario, Cambiaso and Locatelli as players expected to start regularly in Serie A from this group. It’s a lean base compared to the backbone behind Juventus’ nine consecutive Scudetti, built around the likes of Gianluigi Buffon, Leonardo Bonucci, Andrea Barzagliini, Giorgio Pellloir and Giorgio Pellloir.
Palmisani is being touted as a Frosinone goalkeeper and Italy Under-21 international who Juventus see as a potential long-term option. Leoni, meanwhile, is a Liverpool youngster recovering from a year-long knee injury; Juventus have looked into taking him on loan as they look to make a comeback. The interest in emerging Italian talent also reflects the club’s control over young players linked to Italy.
Vicario selection and future goals
“Juventus” has the option to make Vicario permanent at the end of the 2026-27 season for 8 million euros. The initial report did not specify any fee, valuation or contract details for Leoni or Palmisani, and said Riccardo Calafiori and Michael Kayode would almost certainly be out of the club’s price range in the summer.
La Gazzetta dello Sport has a wider focus on recruitment between January and June 2027. Kayode and Fiorentina midfielder Cher Ndour have also been named as Italian targets, but Leoni and Palmisani remain the central names in this reported long-term effort to give Juventus a deeper national backbone.