Juventus head into the international break sitting seventh in Serie A with 18 points from 11 games, and the clearest picture of their season is one of persistent inconsistency compounded by an injury list that keeps growing. The 2-2 draw at Fiorentina summed up the situation: twice in front, twice pegged back, and another defender carried off the pitch. Pierre Kalulu has been ruled out until mid-December with a biceps femoris injury, joining a long list that already includes Yildiz, Locatelli, and Thuram, the latter two not expected back until the new year.

There is some relief on the horizon. Francisco Conceicao returned to group training this week after missing six matches with a shoulder dislocation, and Nico Gonzalez is close to fitness ahead of the trip to Venezia on November 22. Cambiaso, absent at the Franchi with a minor complaint, is expected back in training shortly. But the sheer volume of absences has forced Spalletti into tactical compromises that have cost the team coherence, and former Juventus midfielder Hernanes has urged the club to resist any temptation to change the manager, arguing that sacking Spalletti would only deepen the problems.

Off the pitch, the January window is already taking shape. A striker is the priority, with Gustavo Varela of Monza, Scamacca, Balogun, and Sorloth among the names under consideration. Reinforcing the left-back position is also on the agenda, with Juan Miranda, Raum, and Mitchell among the targets identified by the club's sporting leadership.