The November international break presents us with the perfect opportunity to reconvene with the transfer rumour mill.
We’re at a point – still seven weeks away from the opening of the January transfer window – where media outlets across the continent are merely speculating over potential moves. Not much is happening, so rumours are crafted from thin air to create a wee bit of buzz. Juventus have been subject to such murmurs in the media.
Now, we expect the Bianconeri to be active in the window providing they can offload their unwanted talent. With the financial impact of COVID-19 still lingering, funds must be raised from departures to facilitate arrivals.
Despite the current form of Weston McKennie alongside summer arrival Manuel Locatelli, midfield remains a problem area for Juventus in terms of depth. Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot are two players who could exit in January.
We’ve seen several midfielders linked with a move to Turin, and here are four potential targets for Juventus in the upcoming transfer window.
Aurélien Tchouaméni
A move for Monaco starlet Aurélien Tchouaméni is wildly optimistic if you take into account his likely price tag and the competition Juventus will have for his signature.
The young French midfielder is fantastic, recently earning his first call-up and caps for Les Bleus. Tchouaméni can do a little bit of everything in the middle of the park. He’s elegant in possession and robust without it.
He’s caught the attention of Europe’s elite and a move away from Monaco appears inevitable in 2022. Juventus’ interest was widely reported in the summer and such intrigue is yet to dissipate. Real Madrid, Liverpool and Chelsea have also been touted with making a move, however, and there’s a strong chance that Juve are priced out of a move.
Axel Witsel
There was a point towards the end of the summer transfer window where it seemed Axel Witsel would make the switch to Juventus. The Bianconeri, though, opted against making a deadline day move with Borussia Dortmund reluctant to let him go amid a midfield injury crisis.
Nevertheless, rumours surrounding Witsel’s potential transfer to Turin have perpetuated through the Autumn.
German news outlet Bild understands that Juventus remain interested in bringing Witsel to the club with Dortmund keen to sell the Belgian. The 32-year-old’s contract expires in the summer and is one of the club’s highest earners. Thus, BVB are keen to garner a fee for Witsel before he can leave on a free at the end of the season.
So, if Juve are desperate to add the veteran to their ranks, it’ll only take a small fee to prise the midfielder away from Signal Iduna Park in January. However, they could wait until the summer and pick Witsel up as a free agent.
Denis Zakaria
Denis Zakaria’s another player whose contract expires at the end of the season.
The versatile Swiss midfielder was on his way to earning a huge move away from Borussia Monchengladbach before a serious knee injury sustained his March 2020 – just before the pandemic brought a halt to European football – thwarted his development somewhat.
Still only 24, Zakaria is reluctant to sign a new deal with Gladbach and the German club could look to sell their once hugely-prized asset in January. Tuttosport (via Football Italia) reports that Juventus hold an interest in the player and will send scouts to Switzerland’s match with Italy at the Stadio Olimpico this week.
Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma also hold an interest, as do Borussia Dortmund.
Corentin Tolisso
Bayern Munich cast-off Corentin Tolisso was strongly associated with Juventus in the summer but a move never came close to materialising.
Despite their reported strong interest in other targets, Calciomercato.com reported at the start of October that Juve were still monitoring Tolisso’s situation in Bavaria. The Frenchman’s rotten injury record has prevented him from ever catching fire with Die Roten and he’s started just one Bundesliga game for Julian Nagelsmann this season.
Bayern were previously hopeful of securing €20m for Tolisso’s services, but the club might have to re-evaluate that asking price in January with his contract expiring in the summer.
Sky Germany (via BuliNews) believe that the midfielder will leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.