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4 ways Juventus could replace Paulo Dybala this summer

By James Cormack

OLIMPICO STADIUM, ROME, ITALY - 2022/01/09: Paulo Dybala of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the goal of 1-1 during the Serie A football match between AS Roma and Juventus FC. Juventus FC won 4-3 over AS Roma. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images)
OLIMPICO STADIUM, ROME, ITALY - 2022/01/09: Paulo Dybala of Juventus FC celebrates after scoring the goal of 1-1 during the Serie A football match between AS Roma and Juventus FC. Juventus FC won 4-3 over AS Roma. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli/Insidefoto/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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2. Creator off the right

Ousmane Dembele is enjoying a resurgence under Xavi at Barcelona. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
Ousmane Dembele is enjoying a resurgence under Xavi at Barcelona. (Photo by Mateo Villalba/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images) /

The idea is to transition to a 4-3-3 next season with Dusan Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa, once he returns from injury, occupying two of those spots.

While Vlahovic’s role as the focal point is undisputed, Chiesa’s ideal function is debatable. The Italian’s primarily worked off the right throughout his career, but I actually prefer him off the left because he’s much more of a threat in behind on this flank. On the right, he tends to come shorter and attempt to beat players one-vs-one.

So, if Chiesa’s going to play off the left and asked to run in behind as much as possible, Juve require a creator off the right, one capable of drifting inside and occupying the half-space, to balance the front line out. Well, that’s unless Allegri adopts a 4-3-3 with a pair of free eights that surge from midfield and allow both wingers to hug their respective touchlines – much like Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in 2017/18.

I can’t envisage this happening and, instead, width on the right in this scenario will often be provided by a marauding right-back.

Domenico Berardi is a great option as he’s performed a very similar function for Sassuolo to an incredibly high level for however many years. Nicolo Zaniolo is another candidate from Serie A, while the likes of Antony, Ousmane Dembele and Moussa Diaby and intriguing possibilities from overseas.

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