Former Portugal international Joao Mario, a €12.6 million (US$14.8m) summer acquisition from FC Porto, is having a torrid time with the fallen Italian giants.
The 25-year-old versatile midfielder rarely features under Spalletti, clocking up just over 200 minutes in his eight Serie A appearances this season. With the Turin titans already looking to transfer list a player who had previously come through the ranks at Porto and shone for their senior side.
Although he is predominately employed as a right midfielder, Juventus are seeking to offload him next month and eyed up a replacement in the shape of an Algerian international.
Rafik Belghali, who has excelled since joining Hellas Verona on a four-year contract in August, can be utlized at both right-back and as a right midfielder. The €2m (US$2.3m) fee that Verona forked out to prise the 23-year-out seems like one of Serie A's bargain buys after just 15 appearances.
Juventus target versatile ace
Juventus are among the elite Italian top tier clubs who are showing serious interested in trying to secure his signature during the winter transfer window. Contact has been made with Verona about his availability and transfer fee.
His goal against Atalanta helped to hike his valuation €15m((US$17.6m), although the Bianconeri are highly likely to only pay out whatever figure they can achieve by moving on misfit Mario.
Verona would make a hefty profit Belghali, who they picked up from KV Mechelen after monitoring him for two seasons in the Belgian Pro League. The Serie A side beat Dutch giants Ajax and Belgium club KRC Genk and Ajax to Belghali.
Yet Juventus will face competition from rival Italian clubs to lure for Belghali, with AS Roma and Inter Milan also linked. KV Mechelen had acquired Belghali from Lommel for €0.4m (US$0.5m), but now his stock is rising.
Algeria's Belghali on trophy trail
Belghali will be tackling the 2025 African Cup of Nations, with Algeria among the early favorites to triumph in the biennial tournament. Hosts Morocco, who reached the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finals, are expected to claim the coveted title as a warm up for next year's World Cup finals.
Hundreds of scouts attend Africa's soccer showpiece, which should offer Belghali a wider choice of potential suitors away from the Italian top flight.
Juventus, who have ended up signing what turned out to be a high number of flops over the past couple of seasons, have sensibly been scouring Serie A to single out players that are consistently good rather than take a gamble on bringing in big names who are slow to adapt to the slow pace of the Italian top tier.
Should Belghali be tempted to join the Bianconeri, Juve are more likely to loan Mario out than find a buyer with Verona a potential second half of the season a viable destination for the Portuguese midfielder.