Juventus need to sign an attacking left back to compete with Alex Sandro, and there isn’t a better option than Robin Gosens.
This summer, Juventus are looking to the future. Appointing Andrea Pirlo as the new manager is a sign that Juve want fresh ideas, but fresh ideas need young blood to carry those new plans out. The Bianconeri have taken one step forward by acquiring Arthur Melo from Barcelona for regista Miralem Pjanic, but they know that won’t be enough.
There will need to be a movement to compete immediately so that Juventus can still push for a Champions League title while Cristiano Ronaldo remains in Turin, so balancing incoming youth with the veteran core is imperative. But both should help each other with the right signings.
Atalanta’s Robin Gosens, like Arthur, would be that kind of signing.
Gosens has been on Juve’s radar for almost a couple of months now, as he was one of the standout players in the 2019-2020 Serie A season. Recently, Gosens earned his first Germany call-up, as he has established himself as one of European football’s premier wing backs for the exciting Champions League side.
Robin Gosens can help Juventus win now and in the future
In his prime at 26 years old, Gosens is a player who can help Juventus win now but also has several years of high-level play left in him. So he’s comparable to star forward Paulo Dybala and can grow into a big star for Juve on the left side.
Signing Gosens won’t be easy, since Atalanta know he’s a great fit for them and a quality player. But La Stampa recently reported, via Bianconeri Zone on Twitter, that Juve could use goalkeeper Mattia Perin as part of a swap deal for Gosens.
Atalanta could benefit from Perin as their new starting goalkeeper, whereas the Bianconeri have no real use for him with Wojciech Szczesny starting and Gianluigi Buffon as the veteran backup desperately pursuing the elusive Champions League trophy.
Juventus would absolutely have to add cash to Perin if they want to acquire Gosens, but it would be money well-spent. A swap is crucial for Juve, especially in this deal, since they can’t really afford to break the bank on a left back.
Juventus could use Robin Gosens in multiple ways
But the Bianconeri need Gosens for two reasons. Firstly, he’s a much better attacking fullback than Alex Sandro. Gosens fits the modern game and gives Juve much-needed depth at left back. Last season, he scored nine goals with eight assists in Serie A, providing massive production to the Atalanta attack. He could do the same for Juve.
Secondly, Gosens can help Juve transition to a new system with a back three. JuveFC.com made the case for the Bianconeri shifting back to that defensive setup. And Juve already have an ideal right wing back in Juan Cuadrado, who is one of the best players of the last decade in that role. (Yes, he is seriously that good!)
Gosens, who averaged nearly three tackles per game in the Champions League, could be even better than Cuadrado on the left side as he heads into the best years of his career. He could be a game-changer in Turin as a left wing back in a flexible back three/five, providing support for Ronaldo and Dybala up top.
Regardless of the system, Gosens is a highly productive left back who scores, assists, defends, and creates. If Juventus can get a favorable swap deal out of Atalanta, they need to do what they can to seal the deal.