Juventus: Alternate transfer targets to watch at Euro 2020

Whether it’s John Jensen in 1992, Karel Paborsky in 1996, Wayne Rooney in 2004, Andrey Arshavin in 2008 or Renato Sanches in 2016, the European Championships always seem to facilitate the emergence of a breakout star.

And in the wake of a majestic summer tournament campaign, you know what follows: a big-money move to one of Europe’s elite!

Such deals have produced mixed results since Jensen deluded Arsenal into thinking he was a goalscoring midfielder after netting Denmark’s winner in the Euro ’92 final, but you can bet your bottom dollar that will see a similar transfer occurring this August.

Euro 2020/1 is right around the corner and with 24 teams competing for glory, the chance of an unknown commodity stealing the limelight is high. However, we’re not just picking out a bunch of under the radar stars for the upcoming tournament, no. Instead, we’re going to take a look at a few names Juventus could pursue following the competition’s conclusion.

These are players who aren’t ‘under the radar’ as such, but talents who are set for impressive Euro campaigns and could be astute pieces of business by the Bianconeri. I mean, you must be bored of hearing Manuel Locatelli’s name by now, right?

This is something a little different.

Nuno Mendes (Portugal)

Alex Sandro’s future in Turin appears secure and I don’t expect Juve to invest at left-back in the current window. However, if the club thinks this area needs reinforcing, they shouldn’t look any further than teenager Nuno Mendes.

The 18-year-old has the potential to evolve into one of Europe’s best at his position after enjoying a stellar season at wing-back in Ruben Amorim’s title-winning Sporting CP side. Mendes’ skill set is well-rounded; he’s a quick, progressive full-back who’s pretty stout defensively.

However, he’ll have to compete with the equally dynamic Raphael Guerreiro for minutes at the Euros, with Premier League duo Manchester City and Leicester City both recording interest in the youngster.

Sporting are also said to be demanding for a fee north of €50m for Mendes this summer, a request that’s likely to turn the Bianconeri off a potential pursuit,

Marcel Sabitzer (Austria)

Marcel Sabitzer is far from an unkown commodity, but I think he’s the sort of player Juve would be silly not to at least consider. The Athletic recently reported that the industrious RB Leipzig midfielder could be available for as little as €17.5m this summer with his contract set to expire in 2022.

Sabitzer’s evolution under Julian Nagelsmann has seen him emerge from inconsistent creator to demonic box-to-boxer. He’s a star and will be crucial if Austria are to finally shine at a major tournament. I’m backing them to do so.

While Locatelli is rightly the Bianconeri’s primary midfield target this summer, there’s no reason why they can’t add Sabitzer to their ranks as well considering his current market value. He’s as good as a box-to-box midfielder gets.

Yusuf Yazici (Turkey)

I’ve already noted Turkey’s Yusuf Yazici as a creative midfielder Juventus should be targeting this summer. He enjoyed a breakthrough campaign with Ligue 1 champions Lille, notching the sixth-most shot-creating actions per 90 minutes in the division last term (5.06), and is poised to be a protagonist for a nation tipped to enjoy a fine tournament this summer.

The flexibility of coach Senol Gunes, who guided Turkey to a third-place finish at the 2002 World Cup, means Yazici is unlikely to line up in the number ten role that he often performed for Christophe Galtier last term. Instead, you can expect the 24-year-old to function down one of the flanks. Hakan Calhanoglu is expected to be the creative hub in this side.

Nevertheless, Yazici boasts a distinct creative threat. His subtleness in tight spaces and smart positioning between the lines are both notable aspects of his game. It’ll be interesting to see how he fares against the Azzurri in the curtain-raising Friday night duel.

Sasa Kalajdzic (Austria)

Dusan Vlahovic, Gabriel Jesus and Edin Dzeko have all emerged as potential striker targets for Juve this summer with both Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata’s respective futures unclear.

However, should they opt to pursue a number nine this summer, a prospect they have to keep a close eye on in Austria’s Sasa Kalajdzic. The Stuttgart hitman is someone you won’t miss on the field, with his monster 6ft 7in frame ensuring he towers above his counterparts.

Kalajdzic notched 21 goal contributions in the Bundesliga last season, scoring 16 times, and has proved himself to be more than the mere target-man his height suggests. Dubbed the “Next Mario Gomez”, the 23-year-old is an adept linker of play and, unsurprisingly, excels in the air. His midfield roots mean Kalajdzic also stands out from a technical perspective and he tends to drop between the lines in a bid to create akin to Harry Kane.

One to watch.

Donyell Malen (Holland)

Frank De Boer’s Netherlands are set to be spearheaded by Memphis Depay, but PSV’S Donyell Malen may prove an electric X-Factor for the Dutch.

Malen’s profile is pretty complete; he links play, holds the ball up, is technically proficient, and is capable of making darting runs in behind the defence. While the Dutchman is rapid over longer distances, he’s also powerful in short bursts and boasts impressive variety in one-v-one situations.

He’s poised to duel with Wolfsburg’s Wout Weghorst for the striker spot in De Boer’s side, although it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the PSV man line up on the opposite flank to Depay. Malen’s fairly versatile.

Nevertheless, after scoring 27 goals in all competitions last sesaon, Malen’s craving to state his name on the international scene and earn a move to one of Europe’s elite. Juventus should keep a watchful eye.