Juve general manager Damien Comolli has set a transfer kitty of €50 million (US$60m), with any player sales likely to boost their budget and splash the cash on bolstering the squad.
There’s a summer revamp constantly mentioned, with no-nonsense head coach Igor Tudor having already set his stall out by picking out his favorites and will allow others to head for the exit door.
Tudor completed his first hand-picked transfer at the club with marquee signing Jonathan David, who recently arrived as a free agent after leaving LOSC Lille.
The prolific scorer for club and country was persuaded to join Juventus as a free agent as he was sold on the fact that they can potentially win silverware.
Maybe the New York-born Canada hot-shot knows something that very few others know about the Bianconeri’s squad for next season
Motta mistakes proved costly
The freehand that has been permitted for Tudor to call the shots over playing personnel is pretty similar to last year, when Thiago Motta switched from Bologna boss to the Turin titans. The ambitious three-year plan of Project Motta came crashing down after nine months.
There were plenty of players who should have never been released, as they went on to enjoy a superb season elsewhere like defender Dean Huijsen who has since been snapped up by Real Madrid.
Former sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli allowed Motta pretty much a free rein to spend the big bucks. He brought in players like Douglas Luiz, and Teun Koopmeiners at great expense, who failed miserably overall on their debut season with the Bianconeri.
Nicolas Gonzalez arrived on season-long loan with a conditional obligation to buy, and cost €28.1m (US$32.8m) on 1 July. His future looks shaky under Tudor, as he frequently played at wing-back rather than on one of the flanks.
There are a plethora of potential suitors, with Juve happy to recoup the transfer fee for the Argentina international.
The obligatory transfer of Michele Di Gregorio, Pierre Kalulu and Lloyd Kelly kicked in on 1 July, but these were modest deals.
Donnarumma is Juve's Plan B
Shotstopper Di Gregorio remains on the Manchester City radar, especially after his heroics to keep the final score down to a 1-0 reversal against overpowering Real in the last 16 of the Club World Cup.
Italy and Paris Saint-Germain keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma has been touted as Di Gregorio’s replacement.
Versatile defender Kalulu impressed both Motta and Tudor, going on to compete in all four Club World Cup matches.
Juventus fans, at least according to comments on fans forums and social media channels, have yet to warm to Kelly. The center-back has been widely viewed by supporters as Juve’s worst-ever signing.
Tudor is likely to find an upgrade for the former Newcastle United defender, although it could be tricky unearthing a suitor for Kelly.
Former Italy right-back Mattia De Sciglio, who spent last season on loan with Empoli, was the only player from the vast squad released and is currently seeking a new club.
Money made from Italian quartet
Juventus made four sales on 1 July with Nicolo Fagioli, Hans Nicolussi, Luca Pellegrini and Nicolo Rovella moved on following their respective loans with an obligation to buy.
Fagioli, who earned his first Italy call-up in his first season with Juventus, was surprisingly allowed to leave for Fiorentina. The club picked up €13.5m (US$15.8m) for the midfielder, and must be kicking themselves for allowing Motta to let him leave.
Versatile midfielder Nicolussi came through the Juventus Next Gen academy, made 13 appearances for the senior side and was dispatched to Venezia. The €3.5m (US$4.1m) fee seems high, as he will be plying his trade in Serie B next term following the side’s relegation in May.
Luca Pellegrini spent two-and-half seasons with Lazio before making the move permanent, Juve rewarded with a €4m (US$4.7m) transfer fee.
Defensive midfielder Rovella, who only made three appearances for Juventus, spent two seasons with Lazio and last November broke through to the Italy team. The Bianconeri collected €17m (US$19.8m), and could arguably do with such a talent in their ranks next term.
Others are very likely to leave if Juventus can find buyers. As the Bianconeri are cash-strapped, despite pocketing €32m (US$37.4m), clubs will no doubt use Juve’s perilous financial position as part of their bargaining.
Second-choice shotstopper Mattia Perin is not getting a look-in behind Di Gregorio since Tudor arrived, so will seek first team minutes at another Italian club.
Defenders Alberto Costa, Tiago Djalo, Kelly, Filip Kostic and Jonas Rouhi are expected to leave this summer.
Premier League beckons for Luiz
Luiz is anticipated to make a return to the Premier League after a single season in the Italian top tier. Talks have stalled with Weston McKennie, who has a year remaining on his contract, with the midfield duo up for grabs this summer.
It’s the attack that could become rapidly depleted for Juventus with Gonzalez, Samuel Mbangula, Arkadiusz Milik, Timothy Weah and Dusan Vlahovic all highly likely to leave.
The rumored transfer targets in the Italian press are often too fanciful to entertain for Juventus. It’s a marketing ploy hyped up by player agents to discuss big name moves, which helps to sell newspapers and puts the Bianconeri into the public mind.
Once some of the Juve squad with lucrative contracts leave, the club will have money to cherry pick new recruits. They will surely not make the same mistake of offering outrageous wages to any newcomers.
Giuntoli singled out rising stars
At least Giuntoli prepared for the future, by compiling expensive acquisitions and emerging players that could be snapped up at a reasonably low price.
As things stand the club will have to rely on elevating Next Gen stars, picking up outcasts and relying on loans to plug the gap next season. At least until they can afford to bring in top-class talent.
The summer overhaul has yet to kick off for Juve, and their inability to compete against top teams was all too apparent from their Club World Cup campaign.
It is not looking very promising in the transfer market, but the Bianconeri has until 1 September to finalize any deals.