Juventus Transfers: 4 summer moves that could appease Cristiano Ronaldo

Add Manuel Locatelli to the midfield

Sassuolo center midfielder Manuel Locatelli is the most obvious transfer target for Juventus in the 2021 summer window. Locatelli is already one of the best midfielders in Italian football, joining the likes of Nicolo Barella on the shortlist. He is a leader and an all-around presence for Sassuolo, and he is more than ready for the next step in his career.

In head-to-head competition, Locatelli has impressed Juventini. Locatelli had an assist, three key passes, three tackles, and four fouls drawn in his most recent meeting with the Bianconeri, per WhoScored.com. He had three tackles and two key passes in their earlier Serie A meeting at the Juventus Stadium, too.

Just 23 years old, Locatelli has contributed six goals to the Neroverdi in Serie A this season with a combined 3.8 tackles and interceptions per game. Locatelli adds defensive steel, passing range, attacking intelligence, and ball-carrying to any midfield.

The longer Juventus wait to make a move, the more likely Locatelli is to soak up interest from bigger and bigger clubs looking for the next great midfielder. Juve have Locatelli at the top of their list, and this is a transfer they know they need to make in order to avoid falling apart.

Cristiano Ronaldo understands the importance of a sturdy midfield. The best midfield in recent memory at Real Madrid helped buoy him to an unprecedented three straight Champions League trophies. He knows that without a strong midfield, Juve are not worth his time as his career winds down.