MADRID, SPAIN – NOVEMBER 05: Fikayo Tomori of AC Milan celebrates at full-time following the team’s … [+]
Juventus are lining up multiple possible transfers with the winter transfer window due to open in the next few days.
The Bianconeri have endured a mixed start to the season under new boss Thiago Motta. While The Old Lady haven’t suffered defeat in the league, it isn’t necessarily winning matches either. Only seven wins from 17 games, coupled with 10 stalemates, see the 36-times winners sitting just outside the Champions League places in Serie A.
The injury to Bremer in defence could be seen as a turning point in Juve’s season. While defensively they have crumbled in the Brazilian’s absence, they haven’t kept as many clean sheets in the aftermath of his season-ending injury, and the club will likely look for reinforcements in January.
One such name that has been mentioned is AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori. Once the bedrock of the Rossoneri rearguard, Tomori has slipped down the pecking order under boss Paulo Fonseca, and Juve could offer the Englishman a way out according to reports in Italy.
Juve have already dealt with Milan this season. Last summer, the club signed Pierre Kalulu on a season-long loan with the option to buy. Kalulu, like Tomori, had fallen out of favour at Milan and wanted a new challenge.
Kalulu has since morphed into one of the standout performers for Juve this season under Thiago Motta, with the Frenchman almost certainly set to be signed on a permanent basis at the end of the campaign.
With the price set at just $14.5m, Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has pulled off a masterstroke in negotiations.
Milan, seeing the success of Kalulu in Turin, will be hesitant to get bitten a second time by their domestic rivals. Whether they opt to deal with Juventus in a deal for Tomori remains to be seen, but there’s little doubt Juve are looking at defensive reinforcements.
Danilo, a man who was a stalwart for the club during the Max Allegri era, appears to be on the way out of the club. Despite being club captain, Danilo has suffered under Thiago Motta, with the coaches insistence on playing a high line exposing the 33-year-old’s lack of pace.
Danilo is reportedly wanted by Napoli, with boss Antonio Conte thought to be a fan of the defender and his experience. Should Danilo depart in January, then Juve could make a serious inquiry for Tomori, or Feyenoord’s David Hancko, another who’s also on the club’s radar.
Juve has also been linked with a move for Napoli’s Giacomo Raspadori, with mentions of a swap for Danilo. Raspadori hasn’t got much of a look-in at the Partenopei since Conte took over due to his preference for a 4-3-3 system. With Thiago Motta favouring a 4-2-3-1 formation, this would be ideally suited for Raspadori’s skillset.
Yet with 24 and Danilo in his mid-30s, it’s unlikely Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis would give the green light to a straight swap. We may see a swap plus cash deal.
However, Juve need money in order to finance these deals, and the sacrificial lamb could be midfielder Nicolo Fagioli, who could be sold for around $27m in order to bring fresh capital into the club. Fagioli has sparkled in moments since returning from his betting ban earlier this year, but under Motta the 23-year-old has slipped down the pecking order, and a sale could be beneficial for all concerned.
Either way, Juve will sure to be busy in the January window, as Giuntoli will get to work in shaping the squad for Thiago Motta.
