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Juventus have increased their lead at the top of the table to 8 points in the Italian Serie-A. At the moment, this team looks invincible. While some people believe that the Old Lady’s exit from the Champions League was unfair, it is safe to agree that they should have never taken it to the last game away to Galatasaray. However, no one can argue that Juventus and Manchester City are the only two teams capable of stopping this Bayern team. Despite the fact being that the Bianconeri are an unstoppable force in the league, they should still make a few additions to this squad that will help them build a team that could potentially win the Champions League next season.
Let’s look at 3 players who could turn this really good Juventus side to a great Juventus side:
1. Juan Mata
Mata is a player who has found it extremely tough to break into Mourinho’s starting 11. Mata is an extremely talented player who could blend into Conte’s side perfectly. He would be considered a really important player if Beppe Marotta approaches him in this mercato. A loan deal with an option to make him a permanent transfer would be ideal but Chelsea would never let him go on loan and Juventus would not spend a lot to buy him this January. Considering Mata’s present situation, Juventus will need to start with a bid of €30 m.
Mata is the missing puzzle to this Juventus team and will be slotted behind the two strikers in a realistic 4-3-1-2 formation if the Italian giants decide to bring him in. Creativity and flair is what Mata would bring to this team that already has the likes of Pirlo, Pogba and Vidal. What makes Mata really important is his ability to take set pieces which is a necessity considering the fact that barring Andrea Pirlo and Giovinco, Juventus have none to enforce goals from set pieces that adds an extra dimension to this team. Adding Mata will also eliminate the need to buy a left wing back as the likes of Chiellini, Asamoah, Peluso, Ogbonna and Caceres are already present while Padoin can be employed if none of them are available to play in this role.
Current Market value: €45 m
Years left on his contract: 5 years
Current wages: €3.6 m/year
Age: 25
Other competitors: PSG, Manchester United and Athletico Madrid
Transfer probability: 3.5/10
2. Erik Lamela
Erik Lamela
Lamela was one of the many players bought by Spurs in the summer transfer window. Having started the season with an injury, the €30 m buy failed to adapt to the English Premier League and has suggested a move within just 6 months of joining the London club. Having featured in only 9 games and still without a goal, Lamela is desperate of a move outside England. Rumours in Italy and England suggest that Juventus may offer cash plus Montenegrin international Mirko Vucinic to bring the talented Argentine international.
If Juventus brings him in this January, Lamela may initially struggle but could tick off as the season goes on. The former Roma man is another player that Juventus really needs. If he is brought into this team, he would start as a right winger in a 4-3-3. He offers a lot of pace and Conte will definitely bring out a lot of work rate out of him. He also offers versatility as he can play on either flanks and in the attacking midfield role. Juventus played a similar formation against Real Madrid with Marchisio starting in the right attacking midfield role. Despite the fact that Marchisio neutralized any attacking runs from Marcelo, he offered very little when Juventus attacked. Lamela is very young, talented and has very good technique. He is also a very good set piece taker that makes Juventus look good on the attacking front. However, with Lamela’s entry Juventus can say goodbye to the prospect of Berardi playing in the future in the Black and White jersey.
Current Market value: €30 m
Years left on his contract: 5 years
Current wages: €4 m/year
Age: 21
Other competitors: Inter Milan and Lazio
Transfer probability: 6/10
3. Fabio Coentrao
Fabio Coentrao
The Portuguese international has missed most of the season with an injury and has featured only in 4 games in the La Liga. The form of Marcelo hasn’t helped the former Benfica man as he may move in this transfer market. Fabio Coentrao signed a contract extension at the beginning of the season after almost joining Manchester United in the summer. Valued at 18 M€, Juventus have been linked to him throughout the summer and also prior to the January transfer window. The Turin side may look to either loan him with an option to buy him in the future or directly buy him. With Real Madrid competing for the La Decima, it is unsure if they will let him go this mercato as they would prefer having a deeper squad. However, it is highly unlikely Juventus will go for him this mercato considering they have a good enough team on paper to win the Europa League.
Coentrao should have been the player Juventus should have solely concentrated on buying after they had obtained the services of Carlos Tevez. He would be an automatic starter in a 3-5-2 system that would look threatening from both the flanks. With Fernando Llorente in the center and Coentrao’s crossing ability, Juventus would have been a threat to any side in Europe. Being good defensively and portraying good ball control, Fabio Coentrao would be the icing on the cake for Conte’s side. Fabio Coentrao’s entry could shift Asamoah to the center of the midfield, which is his natural position. The left wing back/left midfield position has been the problem and the primary reason behind Juventus’ exit in the Champions League. With both Asamoah and Ogbonna having performed horribly against Real Madrid, Juventus need a serious re-enforcement in this position if they are to play a 3-5-2.
Current Market value: €18 m
Years left on his contract: 5 years
Current wages (predicted): €3 m/year
Age: 25
Other competitors: Manchester United and Chelsea
Transfer probability: 3/10
With the world cup around the corner will the players take the risk of not starting for their respective clubs or will they make a move in this window? Only the remaining amount of time left in the mercato will answer to that. For Juventus, in order for them to invest heavily in this market they need to get rid of some of their deadweight such as Quagliarella, Vucinic, Giovinco, Padoin, Motta, De Ceglie and Isla. Conte needs to add some firepower to this team now and in the process prepare for next year’s Champions League. Adding backups to positions in the summer becomes a lot easier. But, this Juventus team is on the rise and will become a real force in the future if Antonio Conte stays as their manager.
