Shortcoming in the Juve backline were punished by Manchester City, with the team fortunate to get away with it against Al-Ain FC and Wydad AC in their Club World Cup campaign.
To add insult to injury, full-back Nicolo Savona sustained an ankle issue during the hefty defeat to defending champions Manchester City in Florida. He will be out for at least a month, joining long-term defensive duo Bremer and Juan Cabal on the sidelines.
A trio of Juventus centre-backs at the Club World Cup are expected to be moved on during the summer, to make way for upgrades. Tiago Djalo, Lloyd Kelly and Daniele Rugani could be sold, swapped or loaned out.
Djalo went on loan to FC Porto during the winter transfer window, swiftly replaced by Kelly’s arrival from Newcastle United, but had his contract terminated early by the Portuguese giants because of disciplinary problems.
He was one of four Porto players disciplined for violating the club’s rules for attending a team-mate’s birthday party on Easter Sunday until 4am the following day. His potential suitors comprise AS Roma, Crystal Palace, Genoa and Inter Milan, with a loan more likely than a straight purchase.
West Ham swap
Rugani returned to Juve from his loan in the Dutch Eredivisie with Ajax. He played in 15 Dutch top tier games, but was an unused substitute on 13 occasions.
Despite having made 17 Serie A appearances during the 2023/24 campaign when Max Allegri was manager, Rugani was surprisingly sent out on a season-long loan last August, with no option to buy.
Since his return to Turin there’s been serious interest from Bologna, Sassuolo and West Ham United.
West Ham defender Nayef Aguerd is a potential swap deal for Italian international Rugani. Moroccan Aguerd has recently completed a loan spell at Real Sociedad in La Liga.
Barcelona target
Barcelona’s unwanted defender Ronald Araujo is a top target for Juve with Bayern Munich and Manchester United also monitoring the Uruguay international’s availability.
United have a plethora of outcasts they would be willing to trade with Barcelona, including England striker Marcus Rashford.
Olympique Marseille’s Leonardo Balerdi would prove a more expensive defensive acquisition for the Turin titans, but head coach Roberto De Zerbi considers him to be an essential part of the Ligue 1 squad.