Why Riccardo Saponara Should Be Juventus' No. 1 Summer Transfer Target

Thanks to a narrow win over closest rivals Napoli, Juventus currently occupy first place in Serie A and can comfortably boast the league’s strongest squad. The match against the Partenopei highlighted that perfectly, with the Turin giants still possessing immense quality despite a long list of injured players missing the fixture.

Mario Mandzukic, Giorgio Chiellini, Kwadwo Asamoah, Mario Lemina and Martin Caceres were all unavailable, yet head coach Massimiliano Allegri could still turn to substitutes Alex Sandro and Simone Zaza to secure the result.

However, there is little doubt that the Bianconeri will again look to add reinforcements this summer, and they should perhaps consider Empoli’s Riccardo Saponara as their No. 1 target when the transfer window reopens.

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The reason for this is quite straightforward, with the midfielder possessing the playmaking skills that are often absent from the current group of players while also adding to the tactical flexibility at Allegri’s disposal.

Saponara first come to prominence after a 2009 transfer took him to Empoli from Ravenna, where he had begun his career as a winger. Coach Maurizio Sarri—now with Napoli—quickly moved him into a central role where he used his speed and vision to greater effect, weighing in with 13 goals and 15 assists in the 2012/13 campaign.

Narrowly missing out on promotion, he had done enough to attract the attention of AC Milan, who signed him that summer to complement fellow young Italian talent Bryan Cristante, Andrea Poli, Mattia De Sciglio and Stephan El Shaarawy.

It was a team still led by Allegri, but by January 2014, he was sacked and successor Clarence Seedorf instead opted to field the likes of Kaka and Keisuke Honda. That continued as Filippo Inzaghi took control last term, with Saponara limited to just over 300 minutes during 18 months with the San Siro giants.

In January last year, he would return to Empoli—themselves now in the top flight—and it appeared as if he had never left, scoring on his Serie A debut for the club.

Saponara would make 17 appearances in the latter half of 2015/16, contributing seven goals and three assists before making his move back to the Tuscan side permanent in May.

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His good form has continued into the new campaign, showing the close control and range of passing that makes him an ideal complement to the current Juventus squad. His accurate right-footed set pieces would provide a good alternative to those from Paulo Dybala, while his ability to pick out a team-mate cannot be underestimated.

Already weighing in with five goals and eight assists—including a well-taken effort against Milan at the San Siro—statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com show no player in Serie A creates more chances per game than Saponara’s mark of 2.6.

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Italian newspaper Tuttosport has linked him with a move to either Liverpool or Juventus at the end of the season (h/t Forza Italian Football) and the 24-year-old is aware of the impact his next move could have on his career.

Saponara recently told Radio Lady (h/t Football Italia): 

"

I don’t know if I’ll stay in Italy or go abroad. All I know is that it’ll be my last chance. 

I reached the top level once before and there won’t be another opportunity if I don’t do well this time round.

Therefore I have to choose the right project for me. I’d prefer to stay in Italy, but if a better offer came from abroad then I’d consider it.

"

With the perfect skill set to help the Bianconeri, a coach who knows his ability and a squad of players around a similar age, there is little doubt that Saponara should be Juventus' No. 1 transfer transfer target this summer.