Juventus Transfer Tips: The Case for the Defence

Juventus have been very poor defensively this season, shipping an astonishing number of goals for a team of their standing. You would have to look back 50 years to find the last time the Turin side allowed so many teams to notch strikes against them.

While it is true that injuries have crippled them in this department more than any other, a team attempting to compete both domestically and in Europe should have more players capable of filling in.

Of the defenders currently at the club, too many are below the required level, too many trading on former glories, and there needs to be serious work done in this area as a priority for the summer's transfer window. After a striker, there is a strong case for the rest of the budget to be invested in improving the defence.

Two players have proven their worth to the Old Lady this season, Gianluigi Buffon and Giorgio Chiellini. The goalkeeper has put in another year of miracle saves and commanding displays in between injuries, while the central defender has been the club's best player by some distance.

The problem comes after that, where in the positions of world class predecessors such as Scirea, Cabrini, and Ferrara, now there is only mediocrity. Before additions, the club needs to rid itself of those who continually disappoint. Jonathan Zebina is the first of these, he will have just one year left on his contract, and letting him leave for free is the best option. The same applies to Cristian Molinaro.

Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro has been a shadow of the once great player. Sadly time moves on, and no extension to his one-year deal should be offered. His international teammate Fabio Grosso has fared little better in his first season in Turin.

But perhaps allowing him another year of sharing the left-side berth with Paolo De Ceglie would benefit both the club and the development of the rising starlet. Another option is to bring Domenico Criscito back from Genoa. Given the more pressing need for revolution elsewhere, a little continuity here may be no bad thing.

The right side has been a problem since Lillian Thuram moved to a more central role over seven years ago. Zebina, along with Zdenek Grygera, has tried and failed to fill the spot, with very little success. Martin Caceres, on loan from Barcelona, has impressed when fit, and capturing his permanent signature should be the first addition. An agreed fee of €11 million is written into the deal, a figure the Bianconeri have been attempting to lower, but an impressive showing at the World Cup with Uruguay could see it become a bargain.

Cover would be required for that position, and centrally where only Chiellini has proved worthy of a starting role. Veteran Nicola Legrottaglie has been solid in the last two seasons, and can offer sound backup for at least one more season. A number of players have been touted as possible targets, but many are ill-fitting with this Juventus team.

Schalke's Brazilian Rafinha is one of those names, but after the struggles endured by his compatriots at Juventus, he must be ruled out. Better options are Udinese's Dusan Basta (credit Giancarlo Rinaldi for highlighting him months ago ), or Palermo's Simon Kjaer. The Dane is younger and has been highly impressive for the Sicilian club, who enjoy good relations with Juventus, making the possibility of a deal there much more likely. The ability to play both central and on the right makes him ideal as depth is something the club sorely needs.

In addition to a combination of these players, a shopping trip to Genoa, via Bari, may well be in order. The Italian pair of Andrea Ranocchia and Leonardo Bonucci have both been in great form this season, and both have been mentioned as targets for Juventus, and also as members of the Italian World Cup squad this summer.

Bonucci is co-owned by Inter, which may scupper any deal, but the player appears to loath a return to San Siro, as he feels he was mistreated by the club during his time there. Either would be a great addition, and again the move should be made as soon as possible. It would enable whoever arrives to settle properly and be together during the entire preseason schedule, allowing time for partnerships, understanding, and belief to grow among what must become a compact, cohesive, and dependable unit.

Ideally then a swoop for Caceres, Kjaer, and Ranocchia as replacements for Zebina, Cannavaro, and Grygera. These moves would not only strengthen the defence, giving the new manager a number of good options for any opponent, but they would also drastically reduce the average age of a squad which has looked old and tired since the winter break.

An improved defence will allow the rest of the team to attack with greater conviction, knowing that the men behind them are capable of doing their jobs, a trait sadly lacking in the current lineup.