Serge Gnabry’s future beyond the summer remains unclear with the latest reports suggesting that the German international is considering leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the 2021/22 season.
A heap of clubs have been linked with a move for the winger should he opt to move on, including Juventus.
The Bianconeri, who will soon wave goodbye to Paulo Dybala, are poised to shift to a 4-3-3 next season and the likes of Nicolo Zaniolo, Domenico Berardi and Giacomo Raspadori have all been touted as possible options for the club to fill La Joya’s creative void.
If Juve are to create a balanced front three consisting of Federico Chiesa and Dusan Vlahovic, they require a playmaker capable of drifting infield and occupying space between the lines to serve as the side’s chief creator. Dejan Kulusevski, anyone?
Juventus are ‘keeping a close eye’ on Serge Gnabry’s situation at Bayern Munich
While Serge Gnabry isn’t a bonafide playmaker, he’s extremely versatile and excellent off both feet. This allows him to excel in a variety of attacking situations and ensures he’s equally dangerous off both flanks. He’s primarily operated off the right for Julian Nagelsmann this season; notching 24 goal contributions in 37 games.
While he hasn’t quite hit the majestic heights of his 2019/20 campaign (37 goal contributions in 46 games) in the seasons that have followed, Gnabry’s talent remains freakish and it’s no surprise that several members of Europe’s elite are monitoring his situation in Bavaria.
The 26-year-old’s contract at Bayern expires in 2023 and he’s yet to extend. Thus, the idea of Gnabry departing the Allianz Arena this summer is feasible and, according to GOAL, Real Madrid and Liverpool are interested in signing him with Juventus “keeping a close eye” on his situation.
The idea of Gnabry joining Vlahovic and Chiesa in attack pushes the salivary glands into overdrive. The German is a multi-faceted wide player that combines Chiesa’s explosiveness with Thomas Muller’s astute occupation of space. He’d be a transformative addition for Juventus, but one that would hamstring the club financially.
Not only will it take a considerable fee to persuade Bayern to sell Gnabry this summer – even as he enters the last year of his current deal – but they’ll also have to splurge big on his wages. The German currently earns €8m-a-year in Munich, so Juve will have to better that to not only bring Gnabry to the negotiating table, but to beat out the competition also.
The club simply don’t have the resources to facilitate a move for Gnabry this summer. Considering that they’re set to make a splash in midfield, upgrade on Alex Sandro at left-back and get younger at centre-back, I don’t see how Juventus can even think about pulling this one off.
Still, we can dream, right?
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