According to a new report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are facing a shortage of personnel up front, especially with the lack of effective replacements outside of star striker Vlahovic. Vlahovic has played almost all games since the start of the season, including the league and Champions League, totaling nine appearances and 758 minutes, making him the player most often used by Motta. However, as the season progressed, Juventus realized that they had to find a reliable replacement for Vlahovic.
Originally, this replacement role was to be filled by Poland
Forward Milik serves, but has been out with an injury since June and it is still unknown when he will be able to return. Although he underwent surgery and attempted to make a comeback, the latest surgery and rehab program has delayed his return yet again and he could be back as early as mid-December to January.
Faced with such a predicament, Juventus had to prepare in advance in case Milik's comeback was delayed again. As a result, they began to look at other potential center-forward candidates, with Everton striker Beto emerging as a high-profile option. Beto was excellent during his time with Udinese, scoring double-digit goals every season, but after his move to Everton, his performances have not been as good as they could have been. Since the start of the season, he has made just seven appearances in the Premier League and League Cup, scoring three goals, and has not started since September, playing a total of just 43 minutes.
Nonetheless, Juventus still see Beto as an option worth considering, especially if Everton are willing to take him on a six-month loan. Juventus' management will continue to keep an eye on Beto's situation in the coming months and hope to complete the loan deal during the winter transfer window. That way, they can ensure that they have enough striker reserves for the upcoming matches in case Milik is unable to make an early comeback.
