Scouting 3 Potential Summer Transfer Targets for Juventus

Improving on this past season for Juventus could prove difficult, having enjoyed such unexpected success in 2014/15. As the Bianconeri head into the summer, lots of transfer talk surrounds their plans, with the club linked to a plethora of targets before the Champions League final had been played.

There have already been some major acquisitions announced, with the €32 million paid to Palermo for Paulo Dybala being the most notable. Free-agent Sami Khedira has signed a four-year contract with the Italian champions, while Daniele Rugani of Empoli was bought back in January and will arrive in time for the new campaign.

Another name discussed has been that of Simone Zaza, the Sassuolo striker who they have the option to buy back in each of the next two years. His agent, Christian Maifredi, told Gianluca Di Marzio this week the player is “80-90 percent likely to play for Juventus next season,” per Football Italia.

Zaza endured a tough season with the Neroverdi yet still bagged 12 goals and two assists, but he is not yet satisfied despite establishing himself as a regular in the Italian national team. “I still need to improve and I won’t settle for anything else,” he told the Tutto Sassuolo Calcio website (h/t Forza Italian Football) earlier this year.

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According to statistics from Squawka.com, he hit the target with an impressive 61 percent of his shots, and would be a solid option of the bench for Massimiliano Allegri’s side. He could well improve with better service, meaning Juventus might have another excellent striker on their hands.

Elsewhere, the Old Lady has been mentioned as a possible destination for Cagliari’s Godfred Donsah. His agent, Olivier Arthur, admitted to Tutto Mercato Web the 19-year-old “would jump for joy if Juventus bought him,” (h/t Football Italia), though it remains difficult to see him fitting in.

Given the arrival of Khedira, the Bianconeri midfield is laden with quality, and—even allowing for the versatility he displayed when filling in at full-back last term—the Ghanaian would find playing time difficult to come by in Turin.

He recorded two goals and an assist for the Sardinian side in 2014/15, while statistics from WhoScored.com show he averaged one tackle and 0.9 assists per game. Making 21 league appearances, he would most likely be sent out on loan to gain further experience if he did get picked up by Juve.

Another midfielder connected with a move to Turin has been Udinese’s Allan, with the Friulian club admitting a number of Serie A’s best clubs have made enquiries regarding the 24-year-old Brazilian.

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“Napoli do like the player and their interest does exist, but Allan is also wanted by Inter and Juve,” their director of sport, Cristiano Giaretta, told Radio CRC this week per Football Italia. The club official insisted Udinese have no desire to sell him, going on to say that he “will be important for us next season too.”

As with Donsah, it is difficult to see where Allan would fit into Juve’s plans, despite a stellar campaign under Andrea Stramaccioni. He led all Serie A players in tackling, with figures from WhoScored.com showing his league high 4.6 tackles per game was comfortably more than second-placed Lucas Biglia of Lazio (3.6).

Also making 1.5 interceptions per game and contributing five assists, there is little doubt he is a fine player, but perhaps not a man able to make a difference for Juventus. As La Madama looks to make history by capturing a fifth consecutive Italian title, she will need to add only the very best to an already excellent squad.