Italian giants Juventus have reportedly opened discussions with Genoa over a potential summer move for Nigeria-eligible striker Jeff Ekhator as they look to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the 2026/27 season, according to Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport.
The highly rated youngster, regarded as one of Italy's brightest emerging talents, enjoyed a promising campaign with Genoa, scoring four goals in 32 appearances across all competitions.
Ekhator made his senior debut for Italy earlier this month and caught the eye for the four-time world champions, setting up the game-winning goal in their 1-0 victory over Greece.
His performances have attracted significant interest from the Bianconeri, who are keen to add youthful quality to their forward line before the new season.
Negotiations between Juventus and Genoa are already underway, with the Turin club hoping to reach an agreement before the end of the month.
The discussions are also expected to include player exchanges, with Austrian Next Gen full-back David Puczka emerging as one of the names under consideration.
Genoa have also expressed interest in Colombian defender Juan Cabal, although the Juventus defender is reportedly unwilling to make the move.
As talks progress, the negotiations could expand to include other senior players outside manager Luciano Spalletti's plans, as well as additional Juventus Next Gen prospects.
Both clubs are keen to conclude a deal swiftly due to their respective financial objectives. Juventus are particularly eager to secure a capital gain of around €13 million before the close of their financial year on June 30, making the ongoing negotiations increasingly significant.
Should the transfer materialise, it would mark a major step in Ekhator's rapidly developing career.
Adeyemi Adewale
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