With Project Motta done and dusted, the Bianconeri are fully focused on qualifying for next season’s Champions League to secure some financial muscle.
If interim head coach Igor Tudor can steer the club to a top four finish, then next term could include central midfielder Ederson in a Juve jersey.
Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has been eagerly scouring players as his summer wishlist constantly increases. Yet without the money from competing in the highly lucrative Champions League, plans to sign top class aces like Ederson will be scuppered.
The Bianconeri have four Serie A matches remaining, with the next two games against fellow Champions League chasers Bologna and Lazio. If Tudor can pick up maximum points in those two crunch clashes, then Juve can also be gunning for third place.
Yet being excluded from Europe’s leading club competition next season will be a disaster. Tudor would most likely be gone, rather than offered a single season deal. There may be an exodus of highly-paid players sold, and the club would not be able to afford nor attract high-end targets.
Juventus head coach
The brilliant Brazilian Ederson is one of those prized targets for Juve, with a hefty price tag of €75 million (US$84.7m). But he surely could be lured to Turin if Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini decides to leave his post to join Juventus.
With no news about who will be at Juve’s helm for the next campaign, due to the uncertainty of competing in Europe, Gasperini has been touted as the favorite to be appointed.
Although the 67-year-old’s contract with Atalanta expires in June 2026, he has persistently indicated that he could leave the club. Gasperini scooped the Serie A Coach of the Year accolades for both the 2018/19 and 2019/20 campaigns, and guided them to Europa League glory last term.
Since rumours that Gasperini could end up at Juve this summer, his Atalanta side has slipped out of the Scudetto race and their position of third in the league table has become under threat.
Ederson's waiting game
Ederson will wait on news about Juve’s potential Champions League involvement and their next permanent head coach before contemplating joining the Bianconeri.
He arrived at Atalanta from Salernitana in 2022, and primarily functions as a box-to-box midfielder because of his relentless stamina.
The 25-year-old, renowned for his fierce tackling, offers the kind of versatility that suits Juve. Ederson can be implemented both as a defensive midfielder and as a more attacking central midfielder.
Rasmus Hojlund, who left Atalanta for Manchester United in 2023, is also on Juve’s wanted list and could be lining up alongside his former team-mate Ederson.
Alternatively, he could be back under the tutelage of Gasperini. Despite United paying Atalanta €75m (US$84.7m), the Danish striker has been a flop in the Premier League and may jump at the opportunity to revitalize his career back in Italy.
Atalanta pair reunited
Juve would benefit from Hojlund and Ederson as team-mates again, although they have some big rivals to secure the Brazilian’s signature.
United have made the Brazilian one of their top targets to strengthen their midfield, and recently crowned Premier League champions are also monitoring Ederson who is contracted to Atalanta until June 2027.
The Bergamo club tends to sell at least one of their stars each summer, with striker Ademola Lookman likely to be their next big name to leave. Barcelona, Juventus and a clutch of Premier League clubs are among his admirers.
As there’s a irreparable rift between Gasperini and Lookman at Atalanta, the London-born Nigeria international will swerve Juve if his current boss moves to Turin. While the dynamic skills from Ederson would be more likely to thrive at Juve under Gasperini.
Until there is clarification about the Champions League qualification and next season’s head coach at Juventus, Giuntoli’s wishlist is futile and just ambitious dreams.