After missing out on qualification for next season’s Champions League, Juventus are planning to revolutionise their squad for the 2023/24 Serie A season. The Bianconeri would have qualified for Europe’s elite competition, but a 10-point deduction meant that they finished seventh at the end of the 2022/23 Serie A season.
Now, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus will face over €100 million in losses so they will need to sell players who do not have a long-term future, ones that can be sold for a high transfer fee, and other players will need to offload to reduce the wage bill.
Cristiano Giuntoli is thought to be on the verge of joining from Napoli to become the club’s new sporting director, which would leave him with the mammoth task of transforming this Bianconeri squad.
Chiesa and Vlahovic: Big-money sales?
Despite not living up to expectations in 2022/23, Dusan Vlahovic is still a striker in demand throughout Europe. The 23-year-old is contracted to Juventus until 2025, but he is unlikely to stay in Turin beyond that, and a potential bidding war could even be triggered this summer. The Bianconeri, ideally, would like to receive an offer of around €100 million for the Serbian forward.
Italy international Federico Chiesa is another player that could be sold for a high fee and Juventus are thought to want €50 million for the winger. Promising English youngster Samuel Iling-Junior apparently has a €20 million price tag on his head.
Szczesny: A high earner
Although his contract was automatically renewed, Wojciech Szczesny could be sold as one of the largest earners in the Juventus squad. Currently earning €6 million per season, the Bianconeri see little incentive in having two goalkeepers worthy of starting without Champions League football.
Brazilian midfielder Arthur Melo had an unsuccessful loan spell at Liverpool and he will not be bought outright by the Reds. The 26-year-old earns €6.5 million a year, which is substantial for Juventus, and he is expected to be loaned out to another club.
Italian defender Daniele Rugani is contracted for one more season, but he earns €3.5 million per season, which is considered to be too much for a player who rarely starts.
Kulusevski and McKennie to be shown the exit door
Sweden international Dejan Kulusevski was expected to be acquired on a permanent deal for €35 million if Tottenham qualified for the Champions League. After they failed to qualify, Spurs want to lower the price, and Juventus do not want to sell for less than €30 million.
American midfielder Weston McKennie is a player that the Bianconeri are eager to sell because of his yearly wage of €3 million. With interest from England and Germany, he is likely to be sold for €30 million. Switzerland international Denis Zakaria flopped on loan at Chelsea, but he could be sold to a Bundesliga club for €20-25 million.
Italian left-back Luca Pellegrini went on loan to Lazio in January. He wants to remain Rome, but the Biancocelesti are trying to lower the price from €15 million to purchase him outright.
There are many players to be moved out of Juventus. Assuming that Massimiliano Allegri remains as coach for 2023/24, his squad for new campaign should look rather different than what he had previously.
