Tuscany tactician Spalletti accepted a short-term deal with the Bianconeri, signing a contract until the end of the season after replacing former Juve player Igor Tudor as head coach.
Bringing in the sacked Italy manager was a bit of a gamble. Yet appointing Spalletti has paid dividends, with seven victories from their past eight games even if some performances have been unconvincing.
The 66-year-old has instilled Juve's winning mentality into his squad, which was missing under both Thiago Motta and Tudor. He can expect to earn a new deal, potentially extending his contract until 2028, if he can maintain the momentum throughout January.
The Bianconeri are weighing up options for next season, with a number of names kicking around should Spalletti not successfully navigate the final two Champions League group phase matches this month.
Juve tackle Portuguese giants Benfica (21 January) and conclude their group games at Paul Pogba's AS Monaco (28 January), with back-to-back securing a berth in the knockout stages.
Vlahovic and Yildiz uncertainty
Spalletti sensationally won the 2022/23 Scudetto at Napoli by building his team around a physical center forward and a whizzy winger, on top of his versatile tactical approach.
Despite inheriting a lightweight squad at Juventus, he was gifted traditional no9 Dusan Vlahovic and dynamic winger Kenan Yildiz. However, the pair could both leave the club this month with a plethora of clubs showing serious interest.
As there has been a breakdown in contract extension negotiations between Juve and their leading lights, then Vlahovic and Yildiz may wait to switch sides in the summer. Barcelona and Liverpool are leading the race to lure Serbia striker Vlahovic this month, while Manchester United are eager to secure the signature of Yildiz during the winter transfer window.
Juve's results have improved under the guidance of Spalletti, although he still needs to find attackers that can find the back of the net and provide goal assists. Yildiz is the club's leading scorer this term, ahead of Vlahovic.
Chiesa's potential return to Turin
Summer signings Jonathan David and Lois Openda are two strikers that have struggled to adapt to Serie A, rarely scoring. Although the goal poacher is on the radar of Newcastle United this month, which would allow cash for Spalletti to potentially bring former Italy international Federico Chiesa back to Juventus following his disappointing time in the Premier League with Liverpool.
Should Spalletti steer Juventus into the Champions League knockout stages, then it seems that the club would be prepared to open talks about a contract extension next month.
Spalletti set for Napoli showdown
January's Serie A fixtures are not too tricky, except against defending champions Napoli. Juve face Lecce this weekend and then play newly-promoted Cremonese before ending the month with the visit of Antonio Conte's Napoli to Turin's Allianz Stadium.
Developments in England have made former Juventus managerial target Enzo Marcesca suddenly available, after he was given the boot by Chelsea despite having unexpected clinched the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in July.
Juve also have Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner in their sights, while former Barcelona boss Xavi and Bianconeri icon Zinedine Zidane are consistently on the club's managerial wishlist.
Marcesca attracts his former club
Former midfielder Marcesca joined Juventus in January 2000 from West Bromwich Albion for €4.9 million (US$5.8m) but only player once for the Bianconeri that season. He made just 37 appearances for Juve, following loan spells at Bologna, before switching to Fiorentina.
He kicked off his managerial career as assistant head coach to Fulvio Fiorin at Ascoli in June 2017, became manager of Manchester City's Elite Development Squad in 2020. Marcesca was briefly in charge at Parma in Serie A from May to November 2021, rejoined Manchester City as one of the assistant managers to the senior side.
Marcesca spent one highly successful season in the English Championship with Leicester City for the 2023/24 campaign, and was hired as Chelsea boss in August 2024 until being dismissed today. He
recently switch agents to Jorge Mendes, who represents a number of Juventus aces and works closely with the fallen Italian giants.
The Juventus hierarchy have shortlisted Marcesca as a potential future Bianconeri boss, although he fell down their pecking order after Palace manager Oliver Glasner announced last month that he intends to leave the FA Cup winners when his contract expires in June.
Glasner is a Juventus option
With the jury still out on Spalletti until they complete their five January fixtutes, and the uncertainty over Serie A top earner Vlahovic, Juventus could make a double swoop for Glasner and his star striker Jean-Philippe Mateta who was on Juve's summer wanted list.
Glasner, who earns €4.6 million (US$5.3m) a year in England, is a proven winner who has produced eye-catching performances at Palace and previously at Eintracht Frankfurt. He was highly successful in Germany, where he won the Europa League in his first season, then guided the club to the German Cup final and the Champions League last 16 the following term.
After joining Palace in February 2024, Glasner transformed the unfashionable Premier League side from annual relegation contenders to a highly competitive and well-drilled outfit. Yet Chelsea could come calling for the Austrian manager.
Xavi, who has yet to land a coaching job since leaving Barcelona in 2024. He won the La Liga and the Spanish Supercup during is two-and-a-half year spell with the Catalan club.
Xavi and Zidane on Juve hitlist
French sports newspaper L’Equipe claimed that informal talks took place between Juventus and Xavi, who had distanced himself from interest this term shown by Manchester United to take over from Erik ten Hag and AS Roma to replace Daniele de Rossi.
The 45-year-old is a name always mentioned whenever there is talk about a vacant Juventus managerial role, with Xavi among the favorites to take over at Chelsea but in the mix to join Juve in the future.
Zidane enjoyed a glittering career as player and head coach at Real Madrid. He is also heavily linked with the Chelsea hot-seat and potentially taking over as France manager one day.
Zidane won a Ballon d’Or while playing for Juve, and last year kicked around the idea of becoming the Bianconeri boss one day. His salary would be the highest of the names associated with Juventus, and coupled with his desire to wait until former Juve defensive midfielder Didier Deschamps relinquishes his role as France manager makes Zidane an unlikely acquisition for the Turin titans.