In football, there are teams that are so well stocked with depth that their second team would be nearly as successful as a separate entity. That’s Juventus.
From the goalkeepers to the forwards, the Bianconeri are blessed with incredible depth. Former Fiorentina net-minder Neto is Gianluigi Buffon’s backup. Martin Caceres, Andrea Barzagli and Daniele Rugani are all second-choice defenders who could easily start for most teams in Italy. Roberto Pereyra, Stefano Sturaro and Kwadwo Asamoah don’t start in midfield while only two of the following strikers—Alvaro Morata, Simone Zaza, Kingsley Coman, Fernando Llorente, Mario Mandzukic and Paulo Dybala—will start.
Serie A isn’t what it once was, but some combination of the previously mentioned players would probably come close to obtaining a Europa League place. Yes, Juve have that much depth.
A playmaker is the main goal
The only glaring holes in the team may be left back and a playmaker. However, the Old Lady reached the Champions League Final with Patrice Evra at in the former. They still lack a creative outlet following Andrea Pirlo’s departure.
Juventus’ need of a new playmaker has been so well documented in the news to the point that coach Max Allegri told Italian publication La Repubblica that he likes, “Isco of Real Madrid and the Brazilian Oscar.”
The two join a list of creative players linked with a move to Turin. One of those players, Julian Draxler, was the subject of an actual bid from Juve. Schalke publicly confirmed the bid, while also announcing that they rejected it.
It would give Juve a tactical edge
Whichever player Juventus land, and you can bet they’ll buy a playmaker, the acquisition will give Allegri great tactical flexibility. The coach will have the ability to experiment with his squad and provide opposing defenses with different, dangerous looks over the course of the season or a two-leg, knockout stage contest.
Remaining Juventus midfielders Claudio Marchisio and Paul Pogba both thrived at times in advanced positions. So, adding a playmaker who would occupy the same space would make the Bianconeri that much more dangerous. Throw in spark-plug Roberto Pereyra and said new midfielder, and suddenly Allegri has a wealth of dynamic options at his disposal in terms of players capable of linking play between the midfield and the attack.
Thanks to a heavy investment in the goal-scoring department, this transfer window with the likes of Mandzukic, Dybala and Zaza arriving, Juventus will clearly be able a potent offensive team. The addition of a true playmaker would not only solidify the Old Lady as the Serie A favorite, but also as a legitimate favorite in Europe.