Juventus' Expiring Contracts Make Overhaul Easy

With the current Juventus squad performing way below expectation, most observers realize an important summer transfer window lies ahead. The club have to bring balance to an inadequate group of players—one which fans and experts alike agree, most of whom are not worthy of the shirt. Previous summers have begun full of hope, only to see poor moves made, money wasted, and ill-fitting players brought to Turin.

Failure is never tolerated long at a club used to winning with astounding regularity and Alessio Secco is widely expected to be relieved of his duties, or at least see them heavily reduced, following the worst season in a long time for Italy's biggest club. He has overseen the poor transfer campaigns which have led to this point, and his sacking would gain the board instant credit with increasingly restless fans.

Alberto Zaccheroni was only given a short-term contract to see out the remainder of this season, and given how the team has played under his guidance, that deal will not be renewed. Perhaps the future of Juventus has been planned better than people realise, as the Coach is not the only one who's contract is set to expire.

The current first team squad contains 24 players which the club owns outright. Nine of those players, all over 30 years of age, have contracts which expire on or before June 2011: Alessandro Del Piero, Mauro Camoranesi, Hasan Salihamidzic, David Trezeguet, Alex Manninger, Antonio Chimenti, Fabio Cannavaro, Jonathan Zebina, and Nicola Legrottaglie.

Del Piero is the only one of those who can fully expect his future to be in Turin. The 35-year-old captain has been, along with Giorgio Chiellini, Juve's most valuable player this season.

He will no doubt receive a renewed deal, perhaps one tying him to the club for life, with a future role as president, much the same as a previous symbol, Giampiero Boniperti, enjoyed when he was the club's all-time leading scorer, a record now held by Del Piero.

Cannavaro was only given a one-year deal on his return from Madrid, and it is extremely unlikely to be extended. His exile would gain further respect from fans who were loath to see him back at the club following his perceived betrayal in 2006.

Jonathan Zebina is even less liked by Juventus fans, who made their feelings clear following the players insults towards them during the Europa League tie with Fulham. He will also be sold to remove another hate figure.

World Cup winners Camoranesi and Trezeguet could both be sold to bring in funds rather than allowing them free transfers next summer, while Salihamidzic can expect his free release immediately.

Legrottaglie and Manninger have both done enough to suggest they may receive new deals, and both would provide solid back-up to a squad many expect to be vastly different from the current group. Chimenti will turn 40 in the summer and is likely to retire.

Decisions will be made over the futures of Felipe Melo, Diego, Christian Poulsen, Zdenek Grygera, Fabio Grosso, and Amauri. Melo (unless a big offer materialises), Diego, and Grosso will probably return, with the departures of Zebina and Cannavaro buying the board a little room to maneuver. Poulsen may stay to offer depth, while Amauri and Grygera could also see moves away as beneficial to all parties.

With Tiago and Cristian Molinaro unlikely to return from their current loan spells, that leaves just seven players: Gigi Buffon, Paolo De Ceglie, Giorgio Chiellini, Claudio Marchisio, Sebastian Giovinco, Momo Sissoko, and Vincenzo Iaquinta. With Del Piero, Legrottaglie, Poulsen, Diego, and Manninger, that gives a good nucleus to the squad. There is already a confirmed €80 million to invest in the squad, and that figure will be nearer €100 million with the expected departures.

Jean-Claude Blanc, the Chairman, receives precious little credit for the work he has done these past four years. Some of the criticism is valid, but now is the when he can show his true hand. Appointing a real "football man" to oversee the transfers and find a new coach, while the Elkann family need to appoint of themselves, or perhaps Marcello Lippi as President.

The expiring contracts make the rebirth much easier, and the timing is perfect. Maybe there is a plan there somewhere after all?