Juventus: Assessing the midfield targets for January transfer window

2. Aurélien Tchouaméni

Aurélien Tchouaméni is one of the latest discoveries of Ligue 1. At the age of 21, Tchouameni is doing wonders in the midfield of AS Monaco and invoking comparisons with superstars like N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba. Unlike Corentin Tolisso, this Frenchman has not won anything massive yet but continues to make headlines for his awe-inspiring on-field displays for the French outfit.

An aggressor on the pitch, Tchouaméni is rated very highly by his admirers and the close observes of the French league. At Monaco, he plays in a double-pivot and that’s why he is usually seen carrying a ball and making progressive passes, as recorded in the scout report of FBref. But he can play as a single defensive midfielder as well as a box-to-box midfielder.

Last summer, the 21-year-old Frenchman was considered an acute alternative to Manuel Locatelli. But following Localltelli’s superb start to his new life in Turin, it’s safe to say that Tchouaméni may not have been an out-and-out alternative to the former Sassuolo man due to their differing profiles and skillsets. Nevertheless, a pairing of Tchouaméni and Locatelli could prove to be a formidable one in Serie A.

Signing Tchouaméni would provide Juventus with the same perks as they would get from Witsel. The only advantage Juventus would receive from the Frenchman’s signing is that Tchouaméni is younger than Witsel and thus would be a long-term solution. However, the only hurdle (given the starlet’s contract ends at Monaco in June 2024) remains the enormous asking price, believed to be €60m. In that case, Juventus will be forced to look at backup options.

How beneficial he could be: 7/10