With big gaps and looking disjoined following a cluster of desperate looking substitutions from head coach Igor Tudor, Juventus need to be better prepared to tackle the season.
Tudor surprisingly threw caution to the wind in Verona, eager to snatch a victory to maintain their Scudetto hopes. Playing Jonathan David and Lois Openda failed to reap the rewards, with Juve dropping two points.
Defender Gleison Bremer has been singled out as a priority winter signing by both Liverpool and Manchester United. The Bianconeri are bound to be tempted by a big bid and could trim their wage bill as the Brazilian is Juve’s second highest earner.
Juventus are exploring a replacement for Bremer, renewing their interest in Barcelona’s vice-captain Ronald Araujo. TheUruguay international has only played a full 90 minutes once from five La Liga games this term, twice being subjected to being an unused substitute.
The Catalan club have a serious interest in acquiring Juventus striker Dusan Vlahovic in the summer, when he becomes a free agent so any potential cash swap deal involving Araujo during the January transfer window is improbable.
Juve unsuccessfully tried to acquire the 26-year-old defender on a loan last winter, instead he listened to his Barcelona team-mates and signed a contract until 2031.
Vice-captain Araujo out of favor
Araujo has fallen down the pecking order, with Barcelona boss Hansi Flick preferring Pau Cubarsi and Inigo Martinez as starters, which has revived talk about his potential exit.
Liverpool are in the market for a reliable center-back, after a deadline day deal for former Juventus target Marc Guehi collapsed. The England international has publicly voiced that Real Madrid is his favored destination next summer.
Araujo is deemed to be a cheaper option than Bremer, if Barcelona will lower their asking price as expected. This opens the door for Juventus, who are monitoring Araujo, while Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur continue to keep an eye on his availability.
Juventus would need to submit an offer of at least €50 million (US$60m) to fend off the challenge of Premier League clubs to land Araujo.
It would be a healthy profit for Barca, who bagged him for a bargain €4.7m (US$5.5m) from CA Boston River in his native country seven years ago.