Juventus want to make some upgrades to their midfield in the summer 2021 transfer window, but in order to accommodate a new face who will want to start every single match, the Bianconeri must part ways with at least one midfielder who does not fit the project.
The club has reportedly identified two such names, and these players should not be shocking inclusions to most fans.
Calciomercato.com reports (article in Italian) that Juventus will place center midfielder Adrien Rabiot and center attacking midfielder Aaron Ramsey, who has played as an LM in Andrea Pirlo’s 4-4-2 at times this season, on the transfer market this summer.
Ramsey and Rabiot were mentioned in transfer rumors last summer, but Juventus could not find a suitable offer for either man. Therefore, they decided to hold onto the 2019 summer free agent signings in the hopes that Ramsey could find health and form, while Rabiot could maintain his summer form.
Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot are not important players to Juventus in the long-term
At first, Ramsey and Rabiot flashed their quality. Rabiot was making smart passes and playing good defense, carrying over that form for a few matches. And Ramsey had a fantastic opener against Sampdoria with a few good follow-up displays interspersed between injury-induced absences.
But in the last couple of months, Ramsey and Rabiot have been afterthoughts. Ramsey’s injuries have prevented Juventini from evaluating him fully, but his latest appearances have been below the standard expected from an attacking-minded midfielder at Juventus. And while Rabiot has been passable, he’s cleary behind summer additions Arthur and Weston McKennie. Rodrigo Bentancur is inconsistent, too, but he has more long-term upside than Rabiot.
Juventus should be able to find takers for both players. Rabiot has recovered some form and is a useful midfielder, though he is not the right fit for the Bianconeri. Ramsey has name recognition and talent in the final third, but Juve would be better off going younger and finding someone they can rely on. Really, Ramsey’s case is similar to Douglas Costa’s: good player, but not a fit for the current project in Turin.
Another important layer here is the wages. Ramsey and Rabiot signed hefty contracts as free agents, so trading or selling them would clear out wage space that Juventus can use to sign a bigger star. That is where Paul Pogba comes in. He adds star power and fits the team in a way that neither Ramsey nor Rabiot could. Pogba is the ultimate goal when it comes to floating Rabiot and Ramsey as options on the transfer market.