With every passing day, the January transfer window approaches nearer. Whether or not Juventus will be able to complete signings without breaking their bank this time still remains a mystery. There is no concrete information on the budget Massimiliano Allegri will be allotted to spend in January, either.
The world, in which Juventus dwell, has already gotten messier by the ravaging consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. When it comes to finances, the club has taken massive hits, having recently recorded the second-largest financial loss in the history of Italian football.
Though, as the saying goes, it’s better to have an impossible dream than no dream at all. A poverty-stricken Juventus certainly have “impossible dreams” amid these conflicted times — and signing a midfielder this January is one of those fantasies. The Old Lady might not have the luxury of splashing as much cash as some of the other European heavyweights this winter, but what they have is a plethora of transfer targets on their radar.
Juventus getting linked to numerous midfield targets
As mentioned earlier, Juventus have got extensively linked to midfield options ahead of the winter transfer window. But the question that should come first to the mind of the enthusiasts is why the club needs new additions — especially considering that Allegri has adequate numbers in the midfield region. The main issues that the Bianconeri have encountered repeatedly this season remain the inconsistency of Adrien Rabiot and the impassiveness of Aaron Ramsey.
The grapevines around Italy believe that both players could be shown the exit door in January, meaning Juve could soon feel the need for midfielders even if it’s not a necessity for the 36-time Scudetto champions right now. Without any further ado, let’s take a look at each of the midfield transfer targets for Juventus this winter and assess whether or not Allegri should bring them in.
5. Axel Witsel
Juventus have been long-term admirers of Axel Witsel. In the summer, there were rumours of him potentially moving to Turin. However, at the end of the transfer period, a deal never came to fruition.
And now, Witsel is believed to be one of the top targets Allegri has set his eyes upon ahead of the January transfer window. 32, the Belgian could be the key to a number of dilemmas recurring at Juventus.
Quite versatile in the midfield, Witsel can play in several midfield positions. Sometimes coaches see him as an astute option for the defensive midfield position. Yet, playing in a double-pivot is understood to be his preferred option. As a midfielder, he is an all-rounder. The only thing he lacks is pace. His stats from FBRef underline the Belgian’s high success rate in passing.
His possible addition to the Juve squad could provide a player like Manuel Locatelli with an opportunity to enjoy some more leeway in the advanced midfield positions. With an experienced head over an accomplished body, Witsel could sit deep to shield the defence, while Locatelli could completely focus on pulling the strings with minimal defensive burden. Furthermore, Witsel has the experience of playing in Portugal, Russia, China and now Germany, meaning questions over his adaptability would not be a concern.
Witsel’s current contract at Borussia Dortmund is set to expire in June 2022. As things stand, he would be able to sign a pre-contract with his suitors this winter. Juventus may need to pay a small transfer fee if they feel the desperate need of acquiring Witsel’s services as early as January.
How beneficial he could be: 6/10