Why Attack Is the Area Juventus Need to Address in Final Week of January Window

With just over a week remaining, Juventus have yet to really enter the transfer market despite numerous links to players across Europe. Looking on as Inter added Lukas Podolski and Xherdan Shaqiri, the Bianconeri appear to be largely satisfied with the group of players they already have.

It is hard to argue with that stance with the club currently enjoying a five-point lead over the rest of Serie A. With a place in the last 16 of the Champions League and a quarter-final berth in the Coppa Italia both secured, 2014-15 has been an undoubted success for Massimiliano Allegri's men thus far.

While that will count for nothing if they go on to end the campaign empty-handed, it certainly explains the lack of activity from director general Beppe Marotta.

However, that is not to say there have not been issues along the way, and moving to address those areas of concern would boost their hopes of eventual glory.

Alessandra Tarantino/Associated Press

Part of the problem has come in central defence, with Martin Caceres only recently available again after injury and no timetable as yet for the return of Andrea Barzagli.

With news coming from the club's official website that Angelo Ogbonna has twisted his ankle, it is no surprise to see Marotta admit interest in Porto’s Rolando when asked by Sky Italia last weekend (h/t Football Italia).

Kwadwo Asamoah is still recovering, but the club also recently welcomed Romulo to full training, per the official site. This strengthens Allegri’s options at full-back. There is an argument to be made for reinforcements on the left, but Simone Padoin's impressive displays in deputising for both Stephan Lichtsteiner and Patrice Evra explain Juve’s apparent disinterest in reinforcements there.

With an array of truly talented midfielders such as Paul Pogba and Andrea Pirlo, it appears the attack is the one area of the side in need of an injection of quality. That stems partly from the change in formation, with the Bianconeri now lining up in a 4-3-2-1 formation rather than the previous framework which saw them field two strikers.

Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente filled those spots, but now Allegri needs an extra player—ideally a creative midfielder to supply the other forwards with chances.

The news that Sebastian Giovinco, whose contract with the Bianconeri expires in June, has agreed to a move to MLS has only served to increase speculation.

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

Toronto FC unveiled Giovinco as their latest acquisition on Monday, per their official website, and by Tuesday morning La Gazzetta dello Sport was discussing a possible early exit for the 27-year-old (h/t Football Italia).

In that same report, the famous pink paper went on to speculate that Juventus see Simone Zaza—in fine form for current club Sassuolo—as a potential replacement.

Having contributed nine goals and two assists for the Neroverdi last term, he has already found the net seven times in 2014-15. Zaza has also earned his first caps for the Italian national team, scoring in a 2-0 win for the Azzurri against Norway in a Euro 2016 qualifier as Antonio Conte’s reign got off to a flying start.

Excellent in the air and calm in front of goal, Zaza is quickly developing into a high-quality player, and Juventus are fortunate to possess a buyback option on the striker. Their agreement with Sassuolo allows them to bring the 23-year-old to Turin at a cost of €15 million this summer or €18 million in 2016, per Ben Gladwell of ESPN FC.

However, with Llorente and Alvaro Morata already at the club, space for another target man like Zaza would be limited, as Allegri has refused to field the Spanish pair together. While clearly an excellent player whose future certainly lies with the Bianconeri, his arrival now could perhaps slow the progress of the latter as well as his own, a situation which would benefit nobody.

Zaza would surely be better served waiting for one of the two to leave, with Real Madrid possessing an option on Morata's future and Llorente set to turn 30 next month. A move for Sassuolo team-mate Domenico Berardi—as discussed in detail here—would be a better solution this month, adding some pace and invention to an attack which often lacks both. 

Marotta clarified in an interview with Sky Italia last week (h/t Football Italia) that the club are in no rush to make signings, but he did add that “if a good opportunity was to present itself, then we would take it.”

Given their strength in depth and excellent results thus far, it is a prudent approach for Juventus to take, and it will be interesting to see if that stance alters in the next 10 days.