Despite arriving from Eintracht Frankfurt just a year ago, Juventus attacker Filip Kostic could leave the Turin giants, with Luca Pellegrini expected to follow the Serbian out of the exit door, as the club prepares itself for a season without European competition.
Bianconeri coach Massimiliano Allegri would have seen the lighter workload for his squad as an opportunity to make an assault on the Serie A title this season, but with key players still leaving with just weeks until the start of the campaign, the Italian tactician may have to lower his ambitions.
After a disappointing 12 months at Juventus, Angel Di Maria has also left for Benfica and Dejan Kulusevski moved to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur after a loan spell in London. Leandro Paredes returned to Paris Saint-Germain, and Juan Cuadrado signed for Inter after his Bianconeri contract expired.
How do Juventus replace Kostic and Pellegrini?
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, full-back Pellegrini is closing in on a move to Lazio, after spending the second half of the 2022/23 season on loan with the Biancocelesti and, having made just 21 appearances for Juventus since a €22m move from AS Roma, the 24-year-old is a loss that Allegri can cope with.
However, although the Bianconeri believe that English youngster Samuel Iling-Junior will have a big part to play this term and they can offload Kostic, a replacement will need to be found given the lack of options that would leave on the left-hand side. Juventus are monitoring Carlos Augusto of Monzo, who could operate at left-back or in a more advanced role.
The Old Lady will face competition from Atalanta and Inter, though, who could both offer the Brazilian continental competition. A move for right-back Emil Holm of Spezia should be a far easier purchase to bolster defence options on the other flank.
Can this Juventus squad mount a title challenge?
While Wojciech Szczesny remains one of the best goalkeepers in Serie A, interest in Italian No.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma reveals a lack of confidence in the Pole forming the basis for a Scudetto challenge, and the defence does not look as strong as years gone by.
With Leonardo Bonucci past his best and having a strained relationship with Allegri, fellow centre-back Bremer is the only player of significant quality in defence.
There is plenty of youthful promise in midfield if the 55-year-old tactician has confidence in his own nurturing abilities, but history has shown that the Italian prefers experienced players and much might depend on the fitness of Paul Pogba, who is an elder statesman of the Juventus engine room at 30-years-old.
As for the attack, the permanent signings of Arkadiusz Milik and Moise Kean are unlikely to get the Bianconeri fans excited for the coming season, whilst Dusan Vlahovic may make a heavily-rumoured departure and be replaced by Romelu Lukaku. Timothy Weah has impressed in pre-season, but there is little else to shout about.
