Juventus Transfers: What It Would Mean If They Signed Robin Van Persie

Juventus' chances of signing Robin van Persie have waxed and waned in recent weeks.

Late last month, the Italian giants were reportedly ready to meet RvP's wage demands of £190,000 per week (Daily Telegraph).

Days later, though, the Daily Mail reported that Juve had pulled out of the race for Arsenal's want-away Dutch forward.

A few more days later, the Daily Mirror had a piece out on Juventus' reported £70 million package for RvP. Then, in early August, the Mail was back with another report that Juve had given up their pursuit and turned to Liverpool's Luis Suarez.

At this point, few really know van Persie's true motives. Fewer still can predict where he'll play this season.

This much, however, is certain. No matter which team he joins, van Persie would be an outstanding, potentially season-altering addition.

That's especially true for Juventus.

The Bianconeri won Serie A last season, edging AC Milan in a thrilling late-season title race. But even though Juventus took the Scudetto, no player scored more than Alessandro Matri's 10 league goals.

Van Persie, by contrast, scored 30 last season in the world's most physically demanding league, the English Premiership. That suggests RvP would give Juventus perhaps the one thing they lacked last year: a dependably dangerous striker.

What's more, RvP would be a big star on a big team that's still on the long road back from the 2006 Italian match-fixing scandal. As Gabriele Marcotti explains for ESPNSoccernet:

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The club has been in urgent need of a superstar up front who can score goals and galvanize a side that looks stacked in midfield and defense but has been a bit short up top. RvP would be a wonderful complement for whichever striker, whether Alessandro Matri or Mirko Vucinic, manager Antonio Conte chooses to deploy up front. It would show the world that the bianconeri are back in the most emphatic way.

"

Conte recently received a 10-month ban for his role in a 2010-11 match-fixing scandal that involved his former employer, Siena (Daily Telegraph).

But even without Conte on the touchline, van Persie would get Champions League football while Juventus would enjoy having a world-class striker in the squad.

Recent reports have linked Juve to Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente (Sky Sports), a towering, 6'5" Spanish striker. But while Llorente is a solid player, RvP is world class—and in his prime.

Adding van Persie, who just turned 29, would make sure Juventus are still the favorites in Italy.

But without Conte on the touchline and with the season fast approaching, can they pull off a deal?