Despite no permanent head coach finalized to tackle next season’s Serie A campaign, and the Project Motta era done and dusted, Juve are keen to add pivotal players to their summer shopping options.
Interim manager Igor Tudor, unbeaten in his opening pair of Serie A matches, is in pole position to take the reins at Juve. He has already instilled much-needed confidence in his squad.
On the training ground he is attempting to iron out their lack of scoring opportunities, which includes trying to improve their poor record from set pieces.
Tudor is expected to tweak his attack for Saturday’s visit of Lecce. He could experiment by unleashing a three-pronged attack with Kolo Muani and Kenan Yildiz flying down the wings to support Serbia striker Dusan Vlahovic.
The other end of the pitch is working like clockwork at the moment, but next term could be depleted. Shotstopper Michele Di Gregorio, who is on loan from Monza with a conditional obligation to buy, is being monitored by Manchester City. He turned down Liverpool to switch to Juventus, but this time could be lured to England.
Defensive planning
There have been numerous defenders associated with a potential summer move to the Bianconeri, although the club are rekindling their interest in 20-year-old Comuzzo. He was under the Juve radar in February.
Juventus have also been singled out emerging stars to bolster their backline. The most names whirling around include Benfica’s Antonio Silva, Comuzzo, Udinese’s Thomas Kristensen and Hella Verona’s Diego Coppola.
Before this quartet the favoured defensive signings for the Bianconeri included Spezia’s Nicolo Bertola, Empoli’s Saba Goglichidze and Feyenoord’s David Hancko.
Exodus possible
There’s a plethora of other defenders in Italy that Juve have scouts regularly watching, because there is uncertainty of the future of center-back Federico Gatti as well as the pair of Premier misfits Lloyd Kelly and Renato Veiga.
The Bianconeri bought in Newcastle United’s Kelly and Chelsea’s Veiga for injured duo Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal during the winter transfer window. Center-back Bremer and left-back Cabal have suffered season-long cruciate ligament injuries, with both going to need time to get back to full fitness and match sharpness.
Fiorentina received a €35 million (US$36.7m) bid for Comuzzo from Napoli in January, but the deal stalled as the Tuscany team wanted more money for their emerging talent.
Bargain price
A price tag of €45m (US$47.2m) still seems like a bargain if Juventus swoop. Comuzzo, a product of Fiorentina Youth Academy, failed to start any Serie A matches last term.
This campaign he has impressed and become a regular starter for manager Raffaele Palladino. He even got an international call-up to join the Italy squad last November.
Comuzzo’s versatility suits both three- and four-player defensive systems, which has attracted other top Serie A sides as well as serious interest from Manchester United.
Juve are reviving their interest in Comuzzo, who has been at Fiorentina since 2018, before he potentially gets snapped up by a big-name club.