Goal.com Christmas Shopping: Who should Juventus buy?

Expectations for Juventus going into the 2010-11 season were not high following a disastrous 2009-10 where the club finished seventh in Serie A and failed to qualify for the Champions League.

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Despite a busy summer on the transfer market with Alberto Aquilani, Leonardo Bonucci, Milos Krasic, Fabio Quagliarella, Marco Motta, Armand Traore, Simone Pepe, Davide Lanzafame, Leandro Rinaudo, Jorge Martinez and Frederik Sorensen all arriving either permanently or on loan, Italy's most successful club were not expected to challenge for the Scudetto.

However, new coach Luigi Del Neri and new sporting director Giuseppe Marotta have done a sterling job under new president Andrea Agnelli. Juventus have seemingly rediscovered their winning mentality and fighting spirit and are currenly on a 16-match unbeaten run in all competitions. This sees them in joint-second place, six points behind leaders AC Milan, and with a few tweaks in the January window they could have every chance of an assault on the Scudetto in the New Year.

Goalkeepers

No need for work in this area. Juventus possess the strongest No.2 in Italy in Maro Storari, and the ex-Sampdoria glovesman has filled in admirably for the injured Gianluigi Buffon so far this season. So much so that Del Neri has even declared that Storari could remain first choice when Buffon returns after Christmas. Even No.3 goalkeeper Alex Manninger is far from shabby.

Defence

After a rocky start to the season where Juventus conceded three goals at home in three consecutive home games against Sampdoria, Lech Poznan and Palermo, Del Neri has whipped the defence into shape. It has now been almost three months since the Old Lady conceded more than one goal during a clash.

In Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, Juventus possess arguably the second best centre-back partnership in Serie A. Only AC Milan's Thiago Silva-Nesta duo can claim to be stronger, but Massimiliano Allegri may be robbed of the Brazilian for a number of months now - a huge blow if confirmed. And a blow that Juve could maybe learn from. Were Chiellini or Bonucci to be ruled out by injury for a long period, there are question marks whether backups Nicola Legrottaglie, Zdenek Grygera and Rinaudo are good enough. Youngster Sorensen has excelled at right-back, and his natural position is in the centre, but a move for Daniel Agger, who is desperate to leave Liverpool, originally on-loan until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent, is a very viable opportunity and one that would benefit Del Neri. If a move for Agger fails, then Juventus should only consider signing someone stronger than their current reserves. No more Rinaudo-style deals. Torino's Angelo Ogbonna is an interesting possibility.

Agger would also be able to fill in at left-back, the weakest area of the Juventus backline and one that desperately needs treating. Fabio Grosso was once again a disaster against Lazio at the weekend, and is clearly no longer up to the task - constantly caught out of position and easily beaten one-on-one. The injured Paolo De Ceglie won't be back until at least February and hardly inspires too much confidence anyway. Traore is fast but does he have the tactical intelligence? Based on his Premier League career, the answer is no. Lazio's Stefan Radu, who was sorely missed by his side in Turin, is perhaps the best left back in Serie A at the moment, and has been linked in a swap deal that would see the declining Momo Sissoko move the other way. Radu comes with the added bonus of also being able to play in the centre. Other options are Palermo's Federico Balzaretti, Sampdoria's Reto Ziegler, and Bayern Munich's Diego Contento. Villarreal's Joan Capdevila has been strongly linked, but shouldn't be considered.

Right-back is another area where Juventus are short of top-class options, but the afforementioned Sorensen, 18, has now arguably become first choice in the position ahead of Grygera and Motta. Realistically, Juve would not be able to buy a right-back in addition to a centre-back and left-back so it would be wise to wait until the summer. By then, we will know if Sorensen has confirmed his early promise and also whether the outrageously talented Motta has solved his tactical issues. If both examination results are negative, then a move in July for either Palermo's Mattia Cassani or Lazio's Stephan Lichtsteiner could be just the tonic. Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic and Ajax's Gregory van der Wiel could be shortlisted too.

Midfield

Juventus' midfield this season has been the foundations of their success story. The right of the midfield requires no additions as they boast the world's best 4-4-2 right wingman just now in Krasic, and summer loan signing Pepe can deputise at least until the end of the season.

The centre midfield pair of Felipe Melo-Alberto Aquilani has dominated almost every side it has played over the past few months. In normal circumstances, the presence of Claudio Marchisio and Momo Sissoko would ensure enough strength in depth in the middle. However, Marchisio has often been used at left midfield, while Sissoko - out of form and low on morale - may leave in January. If the Malian does exit, then Juve will have to replace him. Walter Gargano and Nuri Sahin would be revelations but Napoli and Borussia Dortmund respectively won't sell. Udinese's Kwadwo Asamoah and Gokhan Inler, and Genoa's Giandomenico Mesto would also do well, but would cost money Juventus need to use on Agger, Radu and a left midfielder. Perhaps, a loan move for either of Real Madrid's out-of-favour midfielders Fernando Gago or Mahamadou Diarra would be the best solution until the end of the season.

And so on to left midfield. Lanzafame has failed to convince Del Neri, while the injured Martinez is perhaps better suited in a 4-3-3 than to a 4-4-2. As a result Marchisio has been filling in, admirably, at left midfield while Pepe has also played in the position with less success. Neverthless Juve really need to sign a natural left wideman. Long-term Fiorentina target Juan Vargas would tick all the boxes and the price could be lowered if a Sissoko or Lanzafame was added to the deal. Other left wingers to be linked or considered include Hamburg's Eljero Elia and Hercules' Royston Drenthe. The latter is criminally under-rated and could explode in Turin, but Vargas is surely first choice.

Attack

Although Juventus are top-scorers in Serie A this season, there is still no doubt that the club are missing at least one world class attacker. Although Wolfsburg frontman Edin Dzeko continues to be linked to every top European club.

As a result, there is absolutely no merit in spending any significant money on a forward in the January market. Scores of hitmen have been linked with a move, including Maxi Lopez, Alessandro Matri, Giampaolo Pazzini, Mauricio Pinilla, Alberto Gilardino and Marco Di Vaio, but the only one Juve should aim to sign is Sampdoria exile Antonio Cassano.

Even if the tribunal decides that his contract with Samp isn't rescinded following the spectucular falling-out with president Riccardo Garrone, Talentino will nevertheless be available for next-to-nothing. Juventus will face serious competition from Inter, who are perhaps favourites for his signature, as well as other clubs. But, Cassano - having already worked with Del Neri and Marotta - would provide another step-up in quality and boost Juventus' chances of catching AC Milan. It would also lead to the prospect of a truly mouthwatering Cassano-Dzeko partnership next season.

IN (5): Daniel Agger (Liverpool on loan), Stefan Radu (Lazio), Fernando Gago (Real Madrid on loan), Juan Vargas (Fiorentina), Antonio Cassano (Sampdoria)

OUT (5): Fabio Grosso, Momo Sissoko, Hasan Salihamidzic, Davide Lanzafame, Amauri

Preferred line-up (4-4-2)

Buffon

Sorensen – Bonucci – Chiellini – Radu

Krasic – Felipe Melo – Aquilani - Vargas

Quagliarella/Iaquinta – Cassano

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