Juventus Transfer Rumors: Franck Ribery Leads Queue

After seeing a reported €7 million offer for Hamburg's Eljero Elia rejected, Juventus have set their sights on securing the services of Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribéry.

A successful transfer of Ribéry—who when on form can produce spells of immense quality—would label the Turin side's involvement in the transfer market an indisputable success.

According to Goal.com, manager Antonio Conte is still looking for a left midfielder, after identifying the area as the weakest in his side.

Ribéry would be the perfect signing—his renowned pace and skill, coupled with his penchant for embarking upon brilliant runs, would be the perfect complement to current right winger Miloš Krasić. With Ribéry and Krasić, Il Bianconeri would immediately see an improvement in attack—ironically similar to that enjoyed by Bayern in recent seasons—who have relied heavily upon wingers Arjen Robben and Ribéry—(Robbéry)—to wreak havoc on opposing defenses.

However, signing the 28-year-old French international may prove to be a tall order for Juventus.

Ribéry has been one of Bayern Munich's best players since his move from Marseille in 2007. Tie into that the fact he signed an extension in 2010 to keep him at Bayern until 2015, and a successful transfer will likely require an exorbitant bid (Ribéry nearly joined Real Madrid for the 2009-10 season for €60 million).

Juventus have made no secret of their desire to bolster their midfield options for an improved attack, especially after a lackluster 2010-2011 that saw them finish a disappointing seventh in Serie A.

The rejected bid for Elia was the latest in a summer filled with failed transfers.

La Vecchia Signora have already approached Fiorentina about a potential transfer for Juan Vargas,  and nearly pried Brazilian Michel Bastos from Lyon. Besides Ribéry, they have most recently been linked with a move for Schalke's Jefferson Farfan. Each would have provided a much-needed injection of pace on the right wing.

After deciding not to pursue Villarreal striker Giuseppe Rossi, Juventus still have a fairly substantial transfer budget, should they decide to spend.

Only time will tell if they are willing to cough up enough cash to secure Ribéry's signature.

With their most recent friendly—a scoreless draw with Real Betis—as proof, perhaps they don't really have a choice.

Adrian is the admin at Play the Advantage Football. Like us on Facebook