The so-called summer revamp at Juve has yet to kick off, with only goal poacher Jonathan David signed as a free agent so far.
No-nonsense head coach Igor Tudor has set his stall out by picking out favorites and has a lengthy list of who he wants sold.
Alberto Costa, Tiago Djalo, Lloyd Kelly, Filip Kostic and Jonas Rouhi are five defenders all expected to be heading for the exit door before the Serie A season kicks off next month.
Chabot missed out
Kelly, brought in during the winter transfer under Thiago Motta, was preferred over bringing in VfB Stuttgart’s Jeff Chabot.
Now the Bianconeri wish to return to their former center-back target and offload Kelly, who has been widely viewed by Juventus supporters on fans forums and social media channels as the club’s worst-ever signing.
The obligatory transfer of Kelly from Newcastle United kicked in on 1 July at the cost of €17.2 million (US$20m). Juve want to recoup that amount, but there’s been no interest yet in the 26-year-old.
Serie A stints
Chabot would be a much more modest acquisition, both in terms of salary and transfer fee. He has competed in 49 Serie A games overall for Sampdoria and Spezia.
The former U21 German international joined Sampdoria from Dutch outfit FC Groningen for €3.1m (US$3.6m) on a five-year contract in 2019. Chabot was swiftly loaned to Spezia for the 2020/21 campaign.
He was sent out on loan for the following one-and-a-half seasons to FC Cologne, before signing for the German side in a €2.5m (US$3.6m) deal in January 2023.
Impressed in Champions League
One year later FC Cologne virtually doubled the fee by selling him to Stuttgart. Now Juventus are monitoring the 27-year-old once again.
Chabot was on former Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli’s wanted list, having impressed in the shock Champions League 1-0 success last October.
Juventus center forward Dusan Vlahovic was completely man-marked out of the contest in Turin by Chabot.
Valued at €9m (US$10.5m), his transfer fee could be dramatically hiked as the left-footed with imposing physical prowessis also on the radar of Saudi Pro League club NEOM SC.
Stuttgart striker Ermedin Demirovic is of also great interest to Tudor. The 27-year-old’s Bosnia and Herzegovina international can also be utilized on either wing, and has a price tag of €22m (US$25.6m).
Hamburg-born Demirovic netted 15 goals in 34 German Bundesliga games last term, and twice found the back of the net in the Champions League.
If the club can pick up some money from player sales, the pair from Stuttgart should strongly enhance Juve's current squad with much-needed bite at each end of the pitch.