What signings do Juventus need to make in January?

Emmet Gates

• Updated: 17 May 2021 22:19 BST
• 4 min read

Juventus have struggled to get going under new coach Andrea Pirlo this season. The inexperienced coach took charge of his first club job merely weeks before the start of the season, and due to a lack of pre-season, has been experimenting with his side as the season has commenced.

Juve traditionally don’t dip into their savings during the January transfer window, unless absolutely necessary. So what do the Bianconeri need to do to strengthen their squad in the January transfer window?

Defence

An area where Juventus have struggled since the start of the season. Matthijs de Ligt, arguably the club’s best defender, has been out due to shoulder surgery. However the Dutchman is due to return after the international break. Club stalwart Giorgio Chiellini is perpetually injured, and Merih Demiral can be erratic at times. The club may need to bring in a central defender in January, should Pirlo continue to delploy a three-man defence.

Danilo has deputised as one of the central three, and has done a fine job up until now, but he’s not a centre back by trade, and is prone to the occasional error.

The club have been linked with another attempt for Chelsea left-back Emerson Palmeri, who is out of favour at Stamford Bridge. A move for the Brazilian-native would only happen should Pirlo revert to a back four between now and the Christmas break.

Midfield

Juve’s biggest squad issue. It has been so since Pirlo was playing at Juventus. Both he and Arturo Vidal left in the summer of 2015, and the club have tried, and failed, to replace them.

The club was linked with Lyon dynamo Houssem Aouar early in the last transfer window, but in the end it was reported that Pirlo prioritised a move for winger Federico Chiesa at the expense of Aouar. Fast forward three months and it’s fairly evident that Juve need a midfielder in the shape of Aouar.

However another move for Aouar won’t occur until next summer. Juve recently loaned right-back Mattia De Sciglio to Lyon, and Juve hope they can insert De Sciglio into any future dealings with the French side over Aouar.

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Forwards

Juve are top-heavy, much the same as last season. Douglas Costa and Gonzalo Higuain were moved on, but Dejan Kulusevski and Chiesa were brought in before the close of the window.

Juve would ideally need to trim this area of the pitch, as opposed to adding to it further. Federico Bernardeschi, who is finding playing space difficult after three underwhelming years in Turin, may be moved on in January.

Recent rumours have speculated that Paulo Dybala may leave, given his poor start to the season. The Argentine and the club seem to have reached a stalemate in contract talks, and with Dybala struggling to carve out a position in Pirlo’s starting XI, he could be sold next summer.

It’s unlikely that the club will buy another forward in January.