Football Italia
·21 November 2024
Football Italia
·21 November 2024
It is no secret that Juventus are in the market for at least one new defender in January to make up for the long-term injuries to Bremer and Juan Cabal, who are expected to miss the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
There have also been no shortage of suggestions as to who the Bianconeri should target in the January transfer market.
Here is a re-cap of the continually growing list of defenders that have been linked with a move to Juventus in the Italian press in recent weeks.
Juventus are targeting a central defender, a left-back and potentially another striker to compete with Dusan Vlahovic as well.
However, there is little room in the budget left to play with after a summer of heavy spending on the likes of Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luis, who both cost upwards of €50m each.
For that reason, they are likely to be shopping in the loan market, and may also have to sell a current player to make any deal possible. So, the Bianconeri are targeting low-cost, Serie A ready players whose current teams would sanction a move away in January.
Plenty of rumours have revolved around surplus players in Premier League squads. Jakub Kiwior at Arsenal has been a strong candidate given his experience with Spezia and his lack of game time in North London. Tuttosport last reported Juve’s interest in the Poland international three days ago.
Arsenal defender #15 Jakub Kiwior celebrates at the end of the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on April 28, 2024. Arsenal wins 3 – 2 against Tottenham Hotspur. (Photo by Ben Stansall / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images)
A stone’s throw away from Kiwior is former Genoa centre-back Radu Dragusin, although his agent has recently ruled out the possibility of a move away from Tottenham in January.
La Gazzetta dello Sport have recently suggested Chelsea’s Benoit Badiashile as a possible loan target.
On Thursday, Tuttosport reported that another Chelsea defender in Ben Chilwell could be another option to replace Cabal at left-back, given that he has just one outing in the EFL Cup to his name this term.
Juventus reportedly sent scouts to watch Empoli’s Adrian Ismajli in international action during Albania’s 2-0 loss against Czechia in October.
Tuttosport maintain that Ismajli remains an option, alongside the Jhon Lucumi of Bologna.
Empoli’s defender Ardian Ismajli (R) in action against Fiorentina’s forward Moise Kean during the Italian Serie A soccer match Empoli FC vs ACF Fiorentina at Carlo Castellani stadium in Empoli, Italy, 29 September 2024. EPA-EFE/CLAUDIO GIOVANNINI
One of the most high-profile names to be linked with a move to Juventus is former Inter centre-back and current Paris Saint-Germain defender Milan Skriniar, who has been described as the ‘dream’ option for the Bianconeri in January.
Paris Saint Germain’s Milan Skriniar warms up ahead of the French Ligue 1 soccer match between Paris Saint Germain and FC Lorient in Paris, France, 12 August 2023. EPA-EFE/Mohammed Badra
21-year-old Antonio Silva of Benfica is also a name that has appeared in a few reports of late.
Former England international Eric Dier, who is currently out of favour at Bayern Munich, could also be available at a cut-price, according to recent reports.
Thursday’s reports from Corriere dello Sport suggest that Nicolas Tagliafico, World Cup winner with Argentina, could also be a possible option for Juve’s vacancy at full-back.
And, in an entirely different continent all together, Juventus have also been linked with a move for Leo Ortiz of Flamengo, and reportedly sent scouts to watch him in action in Brazil.