Juventus have already added two new midfielders and are in hot pursuit of a star striker, but is fullback also on Andrea Pirlo’s list of needs?
The 2020-2021 version of Juventus could look a lot different from the team that stumbled out of the Champions League Round of 16 against Lyon in the 2019-2020 campaign. Andrea Pirlo is the biggest change and will set the tone for the year to come in Turin as the new manager, and he has two new, standout midfielders to work with in Arthur Melo and FC Schalke 04 loanee Weston McKennie.
But judging by how much Paulo Dybala and Cristiano Ronaldo carried Juventus last season, Pirlo needs some more help. Judging by Juve’s interest in star strikers like Edin Dzeko, Luis Suarez, and Edinson Cavani, it seems like the club’s brass is intent on supporting Pirlo tangibly.
Fullback is one need that the Bianconeri shouldn’t overlook. Currently, they have just one true left back in Alex Sandro, whose lack of attacking contributions became a problem by the end of the 2019-2020 campaign. On the right side, Juve have a great wing back in Juan Cuadrado, but their backup, Danilo, also leaves a lot to be desired offensively. Mattia De Sciglio’s impending transfer is another sign that another body at fullback, preferably left back, would be preferred.
Juventus could be headed for a three-man defense, which means they would transition to using wing backs. Cuadardo is a natural fit for the role on the right, but the only possible options on the left are Sandro or converting Federico Bernardeschi from a right winger to a left wing back. Not necessarily ideal for a club that wants to win the Champions League in 2020-2021, right?
Juventus should look to Sergino Dest, Robin Gosens
The good thing is Juve have options. Ajax’s Sergino Dest has the potential to become a world-class right wing back. Robin Gosens, who provided 17 goal contributions for Atalanta last season, is already one of the best options available on the left side. And Juve could even go after a more veteran option like Chelsea’s Emerson Palmieri on the left or Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin on the right.
If Juventus want to play with a 3-5-2 next season – even if it’s not every game – then they need to put an emphasis on attacking quality down the flanks by signing a proper wing back. Dest and Gosens won’t come cheap, and Dest might not even be available if Ajax feel no pressure to sell another one of their developing young stars.
But those are the two players Juventus need to target if they have transfer money left over. Going after a second-rate player will achieve second-rate results, and it would be waste of money if they aren’t even a better option than, say, Bernardeschi. The Bianconeri have already fallen into the trap of going for quantity over quality or not targeting ascending young players. At a position like fullback, the difference between someone who can truly add to the attack and someone who is “just another guy” is magnified.