Juventus target Patrik Schick as stop-gap solution ahead of summer move for Manchester United outcast Joshua Zirkzee

Juventus want to sign Patrik Schick on a short-term loan from Bayer Leverkusen in January before they go all-in to sign Manchester United outcast Joshua Zirkzee next summer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport (h/t Calciomercato).

Interestingly, Schick was close to signing for Juventus in 2017 following his exploits at Sampdoria. However, the deal collapsed and Schick signed for Roma instead.

Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli is adamant on adding another striker to the roster in January. The injury to Arkadiusz Milik earlier in the season has left the Bianconeri thin in attack, with Dusan Vlahovic having to play most of the minutes up until this point without much rest.

Schick, who has been reduced to a bench role under Xabi Alonso in favour of Victor Boniface at Leverkusen, could get more playing time at Juve as a deputy to Vlahovic. Moreover, the Czech Republic international could serve as the perfect emergency solution ahead of Joshua Zirkzee's potential arrival in Turin in the summer. Motta has already worked with the Dutchman at Bologna before and sees him as a perfect long-term player who will fit into his tactics.

Schick is not the only name on Juventus' shopping list for the winter transfer window. The club have also been linked with a move for Lille's prolific forward Jonathan David, whose contract with the French outfit expires on June 30, 2025.

Juventus will take on AC Milan in a fierce Serie A encounter at the Allianz Stadium on Saturday, November 23. Motta's men have been unbeaten in the Italian top-flight this season and sit in sixth position on the table with 24 points, just two points adrift of leaders Inter Milan.