Head coach Igor Tudor is about to secure his first signing, with striker Jonathan David simply needing to pass his medical to be unveiled as a marquee arrival.
There seems to be plenty of players that are not in Tudor’s plans to push for the Serie A title and impress in the Champions League.
However, the Croatian 47-year-old was anticipated to build the team around the side’s best two players, namely shotstopper Michele Di Gregorio and left midfielder Kenan Yildiz.
Both are being eyed up by Manchester City as potential summer signings. Di Gregorio turned down Liverpool a year ago, instead choosing to arrive in Turin on loan with a conditional obligation to buy.
City’s keeper Ederson appears to be off to tackle the cash-rich Saudi Pro League, leaving either FC Porto’s Diogo Costa or Juve’s Di Gregorio as his replacement. Juventus have plans in place should they lose their shotstopper.
Di Gregorio made 10 impressive saves to keep the final score to 1-0 against Real Madrid, and prevent what could have been an embarrassing result.
Magic in his boots
Yildiz shone that night in Miami Gardens and throughout the tournament was considered by a plethora of pundits to have magic in his boots.
Super agent Jorge Mendes met Yildiz’s parents in a Turin restaurant over the festive season, and with their approval touted the then teenager as the next best thing.
The hype and €80 million (£93.1m) price tag attracted relentless interest from the world’s media, but no serious interest from potential suitors.
Yildiz’s form dipped for a while until things quietened down, and he soon got his groove back after Tudor arrived as interim manager in March. Juventus were swift to issue a hands off policy on their German-born Turkish talent, as Yildiz was really blossoming.
Yildiz is a wanted man
Following such terrific displays at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Yildiz has once again become a wanted man.
Manchester United showed initial interest, but Juve’s stance remained that the 20-year-old was not for sale nor as part of a swap deal.
After Juve’s tame exit in the last 16 to Real Madrid, Yildiz exchanged shirts with his former Juventus Next Gen team-mate Dean Huijsen. The center-back claimed that he had been forced out of Juventus by the then head coach Thiago Motta, having been sold to AFC Bournemouth last summer.
Huijsen got his Bournemouth breakthrough following a sudden shortage of fit defenders, and savored being thrown in the firing line. He was such an asset in the Premier League all term that clubs were queuing up to sign the 20-year-old.
As Huijsen had earned his first international call-up to the Spanish side last term, he opted to join Real.
Huijsen enthusiastic about La Liga
Maybe Huijsen’s energetic conversation after the one-sided Real win with Yildiz triggered something, because El Nacional newspaper has made claims that Yildiz has offered himself (through Mendes) to La Liga champions Barcelona.
Given Barcelona’s economic situation, they will need to sell players if they want to finance landing Yildiz. Versatile midfielder Pablo Torre would probably be the first to depart, as he didn’t get as many minutes as he expected last season under new boss Hansi Flick.
The German tactician superbly managed his Barca squad, earning them the league title over bitter rivals Real.
Yet Yildiz may not get as many minutes for the Spanish giants as he would with Juventus, because Barca boast top quality midfielders in their squad.
Barca's midfield has depth
Squad depth is critical for any team to be successful. Barca has the riches of Marc Berna, Marc Casado, Frenkie de Jong, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, Dani Olmo, Pedri and Torre already in the running for three starting spots next season.
Yildiz was on the brink of signing for Barcelona three years ago, but picked Juventus. He was a Bayern Munich prodigy, having been on their books since the age of seven and rapidly progressed through their youth ranks.
When his contract expired he moved from the Bavarian outfit, snubbed Barca and arrived at Juventus. The rest is history.
If the Spanish newspaper is correct, there’s going to be tears across Turin if the superstar decides to call it time in Serie A to switch to Catalonia by signing for Barcelona.