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Under new manager Andrea Pirlo, Juventus have had an indifferent start to their 2020-21 campaign.
The Bianconeri are one of two unbeaten teams in Serie A this season but find themselves trailing the two Milan clubs - AC and Inter. Juventus have struggled to keep clean sheets this season - their 4-0 win at Parma was only their third league shutout.
In the Champions League, a Cristiano Ronaldo-less Juventus were humbled 2-0 at home by Barcelona but managed to bounce back and win 3-0 at Camp Nou to take top spot in the group.
It hasn't been a terrible start to both competitions but Juventus, despite the goal-scoring exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata, haven't looked like a team that can win a tenth consecutive Scudetto or go all the way in the Champions League.
Five players that could arrive at Juventus in the January transfer window
As has already been mentioned, a leaky defence and an over-reliance on Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't augur well for Juventus' hopes in Serie A and the Champions League this season.
Despite the emergence of Weston McKennie as a reliable goal-scoring option up front, the Bianconeri need defensive solidity and back-up options in all departments to mount a sustained challenge in both competitions.
On that note, let us have a look at five players who could arrive at Juventus in the upcoming January transfer window.
#5 Emerson Palmieri
Emerson Palmieri has been a fringe player at Chelsea since arriving at the club almost three years ago. The Italian left-back has appeared only 62 times in all competitions since arriving from AS Roma, scoring a solitary goal and providing five assists.
Nevertheless, considering his quality, the 26-year-old has been the subject of interest from top clubs around Europe, especially Italian giants Juventus and Inter Milan.
Juventus are in need of a left-back option, as Alex Sandro and Gianluca Frabotta are the only recognised personnel in that position.
Moreover, considering the Bianconeri's domestic pedigree, Emerson could choose Juventus over Inter in January.
#4 Luis Alberto
Luis Alberto was a standout performer for Lazio last season, producing six goals and 16 assists in the Roman club's unlikely run for the Serie A title.
However, the 28-year-old attacking midfielder has failed to replicate that form this season, scoring only two league goals and assisting none. Considering his indifferent form, Alberto could reportedly be jettisoned by Lazio, with AC Milan and Juventus emerging as two of several possible destinations for the player.
Juventus are not short-staffed in midfield at the moment but would like to have more depth in that area of the field as they look to continue their Serie A stranglehold and end their long Champions League drought.
Alberto doesn't score a lot of goals but has a knack of creating goal-scoring opportunities aplenty for teammates, an attribute that could immensely benefit Juventus as they prepare to enter the second half of the season.
#3 Papu Gomez
Papu Gomez has been a key player for Atalanta since joining the Serie A club in the summer of 2014. However, with the player reportedly experiencing a relationship breakdown with his club coach, he could leave Atalanta in January. Juventus are said to be one of several contenders for the Argentine.
Gomez has had goal-scoring contributions aplenty for Atalanta in recent times - he scored 14 times and assisted 27 in the last two Serie A seasons - but has found game-time relatively difficult to come by this season.
Juventus have a penchant of snapping up the best players from rival teams, so Gomez's possible availability in January has attracted the Bianconeri's attention.
The Argentine is a proven goal-scorer and goal-creator in Serie A and could take the pressure off Cristiano Ronaldo and Alvaro Morata as Juventus look to mount title challenges both at home and in Europe.
#2 Olivier Giroud
Olivier Giroud has largely been a fringe player under Frank Lampard, with the Frenchman struggling to start games under the Chelsea manager.
However, the former Arsenal man has managed to score crucial goals for his side after coming off the bench. Recently, the 34-year-old scored four goals against Sevilla to become the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Champions League.
Despite the 2018 FIFA World Cup winner starting more games for Chelsea of late, he could depart the English club in January to get more game-time ahead of the European Championships next summer.
In this regard, Giroud is reportedly interested in joining Juventus. If he joins Juventus, he would be a reliable third scoring option for the club if one of Ronaldo or Morata gets injured.
The Frenchman has scored an impressive eight times in 14 games in all competitions this season - numbers that are impressive for someone who doesn't start too many games.
#1 David Alaba
David Alaba has been a key player for Bayern Munich for well over a decade and is undoubtedly one of the finest defenders in the game.
The Austria international has won two continental trebles and eight consecutive Bundesliga titles among a plethora of domestic and continental honours. Alaba has made over 400 appearances for the Bavarian giants, producing a goal-scoring contribution roughly once every five games.
The 28-year-old, who has made a seamless transition from left-back to centre-back, is in the final year of his contract with Bayern Munich and is yet to agree an extension with the club. This has alerted several top clubs across Europe, one of them being Juventus.
With the ageing Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, Juventus would do well to land an experienced campaigner like Alaba at the heart of their defence.
