Amidst all the turmoil currently undergoing at the club, Juventus fans could be forgiven for giving so little heed to the upcoming January transfer market. After all, the Bianconeri have comprehensively bigger problems than filling some voids within the squad. Nonetheless, the team was enjoying a delightful renaissance just before the winter break, winning six domestic matches in a row all while preserving a clean sheet. Juventus managed to climb the Serie A ranks, and perhaps a few additions to Massimiliano Allegri’s squad could make all the difference come May.
Even though Christmas is behind us, Max would still accept late presents, especially if they come in the form of reinforcement in two particular departments.
Centre-Back
Once upon a time in Turin, Allegri Juventus arguably possessed the best defensive machine in football, with Gianluigi Buffon shielded by Giorgio Chiellini, Andrea Barzagli and Leonardo Bonucci. Sadly, the first three are all gone, while the latter has become a shade of his former self, with father time taking its toll on his body.
With Leo enduring a freefall, Danilo has been slowly but surely drifting towards a more central role while simultaneously establishing himself as the De Facto leader of the backline. Beside him, his compatriot Gleison Bremer has swiftly adapted to life on the other side of the city following his summer transfer from Torino.
In Federico Gatti, the Bianconeri have an up-and-coming centre-back who might become a stalwart at some point in the future, but it remains uncertain whether or not he’ll be able to fulfill his promise. Finally, Daniele Rugani remains an afterthought at the club, which has mostly been the case since his initial arrival back in 2015. After all these years, it’s past time for the Italian to leave Continassa in the hopes of reviving his career elsewhere.
Therefore, the club definitely needs to strengthen its defense with a new centre-back since Gatti appears to be the solitary reliable backup for Danilo and Bremer. The fact that Allegri is currently adopting a three-man backline is an additional reason for Juventus to address this particularly delicate area.
As it’s often the case, the Old Lady is linked with several candidates – young and old – but if we’re going to pick one ideal can candidate, then it’s probably Spezia’s Jakub Kiwior. The 22-year-old has been making leaps and bounds since joining the Ligurian club in 2021. He even became a staple for the Polish national team. Moreover, the Turin-based giants have been lacking a left-footed centre-back since Chiellini’s departure, and therefore, Kiwior would tick all the boxes.
Fullback
Truth to be told, Juventus probably need a new fullback for each flank. But since we’re in January and the club is enduring legal and financial crisis, we’ll have to be realistic and meet the under-fire management halfway. So for sporting director Federico Cherubini we say: “Just get one, Freddy. Maybe a versatile one.”
As we mentioned above, the club is currently adopting a 3-5-2 formation, which means that Allegri needs men who can make themselves useful as wingbacks. While Danilo and Alex Sandro have been transformed into centre-backs, Filip Kostic has proved himself to be a menacing force on the left flank, while Samuel Iling-Junior rose through the ranks to assert himself as a capable replacement. Perhaps even Federico Chiesa can serve in this role after his return from his injury nightmare.
But while the situation on the left seems under control, the right lane appears to be more problematic, especially with Juan Cuadrado finally beginning to display signs of aging – having to work extra shifts at the age of 34 surely didn’t help his case.
Perhaps Mattia De Sciglio’s return would ease some of the pressure off the Colombian’s shoulders, but the former Milan isn’t exactly the most inspiring of options, and the department remains thin in general.
Thus, a new addition feels mandatory. Juventus must buy a new wingback who excels on the right flank, but it certainly wouldn’t hurt to have someone who could also cover on the opposite side. In this regard, Joakim Maehle is arguably the best that the Bianconeri could do, as we’re talking about a 25-year-old who’s ready to enter his peak years but has already amassed enough experience in Italian football.
However convincing Atalanta to part ways with the Denmark international in the middle of the season might be a difficult task. Hence, Juventus and Allegri might have to settle for Roma rebel Rick Karsdorp who has apparently burned all bridges with José Mourinho, while Juventus Next Gen starlet Tommaso Barbieri offers a free internal solution.
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