The trail is heating up: New developments in the Goretzka saga | OneFootball

Leon Goretzka has officially not been a Bayern Munich player since July 1. It now appears there may be a new twist in the story regarding his future.

Following the German national team’s World Cup exit, the saga surrounding the 31-year-old is picking up steam again. As Sky Italia reports, Juventus has resumed talks with the midfielder. During the World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the U.S., Goretzka had deliberately put his personal future on the back burner and focused entirely on the game. Now, the focus is reportedly back on the next step in his career.

Speculation surrounding the midfielder has been ongoing for weeks. One lead pointed to Atlético Madrid for a time, while another pointed to the U.S. MLS. However, the possibility of a move to Italy has repeatedly surfaced—and that prospect is now gaining new momentum.

Goretzka’s High Demands

According to the report, financial issues are at the center of the talks with Juventus. Sources in Italy indicate that Goretzka is reportedly demanding an annual salary of around seven million euros. On top of that, he is said to be seeking a generous signing bonus of up to ten million euros.

Reaching an agreement is therefore unlikely to be straightforward. Calciomercato and La Gazzetta dello Sport recently reported that the Turin club has set a firm financial limit that it does not intend to exceed. Any compromise would therefore have to come from the player’s side.

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Furthermore, Sky Italia reports that the Goretzka deal is not a top priority for Juve anyway. The club’s management is instead focusing on signing a new goalkeeper and filling the center-forward position.

The German record champions had already made their decision earlier in the season: they would not renew Goretzka’s expiring contract. As a result, the midfielder spent months on a farewell tour, which he ultimately capped off with league and cup titles.