Juventus will reportedly try to sign a new midfielder before the completion of the transfer window following a sluggish start to the season. According to Calciomercato, I Bianconeri have added four players to their shortlist as Massimiliano Allegri hopes to upgrade his current options.
Juventus’ list of targets reportedly includes the likes of Miralem Pjanic, Houssem Aouar, Axel Witsel, and Aurelien Tchouameni. A stuttering start to their new Serie A campaign has seen the Turin powerhouse return just a single point from their opening two Serie A fixtures.
Saturday’s 1-0 defeat to Empoli at the Allianz Stadium has convinced the club hierarchy to pursue a new midfielder. Cristiano Ronaldo’s return to Manchester United has left a sizeable gap in the front third, forcing rotations across the pitch.
Without Ronaldo in the picture, Allegri used Weston McKennie higher up the field against Empoli. Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur struggled to impress in the double-pivot, barely creating anything meaningful for their attacking comrades.
Therefore, Juventus want to reinforce their midfield options at the business end of the summer. Pjanic, who has found himself on the fringes at Barcelona, seems to be the likeliest solution as the Spaniards are ready to give up their outcast on favorable terms.
The Bosnian left Serie A last summer carrying a reputation as one of the most highly-rated playmakers in Europe’s top-five divisions. However, he has failed to settle at Camp Nou and is now desperate to link up with Juventus again. Pjanic’s wage demands remain a sticking point, though.
Juventus are long-term admirers of Aouar, but Lyon star has generated plenty of interest from the Premier League. Indeed, several top English clubs are in the race to sign the 23-year-old, which could throw a spanner in the works.
Since Borussia Dortmund are unlikely to renounce Witsel, Monaco’s Tchouameni could be Juventus’ surprise late purchase. The 21-year-old prodigy has been impressive in Ligue 1 over the past 12 months.
Tchouameni, whose physical presence has been off the charts in France’s top-flight, could add aerial strength and energy to Allegri’s midfield. It’s still uncertain how much he would cost, considering that his contract at Monaco runs out in three years.