After the glitz, glamor and bid for glory at the cash-rich 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, it’s back to the Continassa for head coach Igor Tudor and his squad.
Juventus made some big bucks from the US-based tournament, ironed out which players are part of Tudor’s plans and implemented their scouts.
Dusan Vlahovic was hoping to utilize the big stage to showcase his skills. He made only one start, and was unceremoniously kept on the bench for the Real Madrid last 16 tie.
His absence from playing could have been because of his reluctance to leave the Bianconeri, preferring to receive a hefty paycheck for the next 12 months than get minutes under his belt to warrant a 2026 World Cup call-up for Serbia.
Tudor calls the shots
He also clearly upset emerging superstar team-mate Kenan Yildiz during the Manchester City mauling, constantly scolding him. No nonsense Tudor won’t put up with friction in the dressing room.
Vlahovic turned down offers to ply his trade elsewhere, with only a potential swap deal for Manchester United outcast Jadon Sancho on the horizon.
The imminent arrival of Canada international hot-shot Jonathan David, with the club looking at more attackers, means that the 25-year-old should push for a Premier League or potentially face a season being frozen out.
Apart from the urgent need to replenish the frontline and strengthen the defense that looked so fragile through the Club World Cup, Juventus need a stronger and more creative midfield to tackle next season.
Second target from Sporting
While scouting Sporting Lisbon’s lethal marksman Viktor Gyokeres, who was their no1 target, Juve unearthed a gem in the Portuguese giants’ Morten Hjulmand.
He is Sporting’s skipper, and as eloquent at press conferences as he is in midfield. Hjulmand’s ability to disrupt attacks by intercepting passes and fearlessly making tackles, as well as creating scoring chances could be just the ticket for Tudor.
Hjulmand, under contract until 2028, is an avid fan of Arsenal to such an extent that he sports a tattoo with the club's crest. That would not go down well with Arsenal's bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who recently appointed Dane Thomas Frank as head coach and shown interest in signing Hjulmand.
He has a hefty release clause of €80 million ($94.3m), which won't put off Juventus if they offload Vlahovic. Yet Sporting tend to have high prices for their players.
Goal machine Gyokeres was down at €100m ($118m), but he is expected to be signed by either Arsenal or Manchester United for €80m ($94.3m).
Juve may have missed out on one Sporting star this summer, but no doubt will not want to repeat their failure. There is also a high chance of 26-year-old Hjulmand being reunited with former Sporting boss Ruben Amorim at Manchester United.
Mexico international as Plan B
Should Hjulmand slip through their fingers, defensive midfielder Fidel Ambriz has been identified by Juve scouts as a possible back-up for Tudor.
Sporting are interested in the 22-year-old Mexico international as a replacement for Hjulmand, especially as his transfer fee is around €10m ($11.8m).
Ambriz was on duty at the Club World Cup with Monterrey, rather than competing in the CONCACAF Gold Cup, where he made an impression in four appearances and set up a goal.
As well as Juventus and Sporting, he is on the radar of RC Strasbourg and Russian giants Zenit Saint Petersburg.