Juventus Transfers: The 5 biggest priorities in the summer 2021 market
Juventus need to finish the 2020-2021 Serie A season strong in order to ensure they will make the Champions League next year. But in order to avoid another disappointing season, the Bianconeri must continue to replenish their squad in the summer 2021 transfer window.
Let’s take a look at the biggest priorities for Juve this coming summer when it comes to the kinds of players they should target. There are needs all over their roster, but, undoubtedly, some are bigger than others.
A center midfielder
Juve’s center midfield is not good enough. 2020 summer additions Weston McKennie and Arthur Melo will help the team in the long run, but Juve need to replace Adrien Rabiot and Aaron Ramsey with better players. Neither Rabiot nor Ramsey are poor, but the 2019 free agents don’t measure up when it comes to the kinds of players Juventus need in their starting lineup in midfield.
Manuel Locatelli and Houssem Aouar are the best signings when it comes to fit, skill level, and future upside. But Rodrigo De Paul is an experienced midfielder who can help this team, given what he’s accomplished at Udinese. The 26-year-old is entering his prime and has six goals and five assists this season in Serie A, making him the most productive of Juve’s transfer targets in the middle of the park.
If Juve want to go with someone who is more of a prospect, Ajax’s Ryan Gravenberch has future superstar written all over him. But Juve need someone who can be a star now. Locatelli and De Paul fit the bill 100 percent, as they are already established in Italian football.
A left-sided midfielder
Who is Juve’s best left-sided midfielder? Apparently, it’s Federico Chiesa, even though his best fit in a 4-4-2 is on the right-hand side. But Juve don’t have any other options. Federico Bernardeschi isn’t a bad squad player, but it would be best for Juventus to move on from the perennially disappointing left-footer. Aaron Ramsey and Weston McKennie have played out wide for Juve, but that’s never worked out.
If Juve were to sign a left midfielder this summer, nobody stands out more than Robin Gosens. There could be other options, but the 40 million euro-rated German international is the one who can immediately play at a high level for Juve. He is one of Serie A’s top players and can be an asset both offensively and defensively. That’s what Juve need in their squad this summer.
Keep Alvaro Morata or sign a new striker
Alvaro Morata won’t be purchased permanently by Juventus for 45 million euros, but, hopefully, the Bianconeri will extend his loan spell. Unfortunately, that’s also in doubt, which means Juventus could be looking at filling another need. Morata’s recent performances probably haven’t helped his case, since adding another year on loan from Atletico Madrid would not be cheap for the Bianconeri.
Even so, Morata has been effective this season as the team’s leading assist-provider in Serie A. And it’s unlikely the Old Lady will be able to enlist anyone better. And even if they are able to keep Morata, depth at striker could still be an issue for Juve.
Genoa duo Gianluca Scamacca and Eldor Shomurodov have entered the discussion as possible options. The former is more expensive, but also more impressive, than the latter. That said, Juve would probably like to aim higher. Free agents Memphis Depay and Sergio Aguero are big names, but are they affordable? Depay would be worth the risk, but Aguero probably would not.
Any sort of creativity in midfield
This goes with point No. 1, but it must be emphasized again. Juventus’ only creative midfielder is Aaron Ramsey, who is never healthy enough to show his gifts. The Bianconeri will probably sell him to the Premier League, but then who replaces Ramsey? Will someone like Florian Neuhaus be available and achievable to the Old Lady?
Andrea Pirlo may not be the manager next season, but whether he is or isn’t, Juve need more tactical flexibility and someone besides McKennie who can play a more attacking midfield role. In case that’s the direction they go, here are some potential creative names for the Bianconeri.
A better attacking left back than Alex Sandro
Alex Sandro seems to be more of a center back than a left back at this point in his career. While the Brazilian defender is not a bad player, his decline has been clear for Juventini to see. He is capable of making good clearances and the occasional cross, but he struggles so much with moving up and down the pitch. His athleticism has been essentially sapped at this point, and Juventus must start thinking of an upgrade for a player who was once a world-class left back.
A more attacking option would be best. Juve should target Robin Gosens on the left side, but they could also do well to nab someone who is more of a left back, since it seems as if they won’t be transitioning to a 3-5-2.
Next. The 4 biggest possible summer transfers for Juventus. dark
Luca Pellegrini seems like an option, but the loanee is too much of a liability defensively. So basically, Juve would have the opposite problem if they were to replace Alex Sandro with Pellegrini. They would trade defense and experience for inconsistency, inexperience, and attacking firepower. Ideally, Juve would start someone more well-rounded at left back than either.