Italian media highlight biggest Juventus issue and how to solve it

Both La Gazzetta dello Sport and Tuttosport highlight Juventus‘ problems in midfield which have worsened following Weston McKennie’s injury.

The USMNT international will remain out of action for at least two months following the fracture of the 2nd and 3rd metatarsal bones of his left foot.

La Gazzetta highlights how McKennie’s injury will deprive Massimiliano Allegri of a ‘unique piece’ in the middle of the park. The former Schalke man is the midfielder with the most goals at the Allianz Stadium this term (4) and is the only one who, thanks to his late runs,  can help the Bianconeri find the net more consistently.

Manuel Locatelli has scored three goals so far and the other midfielders have combined two, including one from new signing Denis Zakaria. The ex-Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder is McKennie’s ideal replacement, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, but the Bianconeri would still lack quality in the middle of the park.

Gone are the days when the Bianconeri could rely on the likes of Claudio Marchisio, Paul Pogba, Andrea Pirlo and Arturo Vidal. The Old Lady needs more quality and dynamism in the middle of the park and can only get that by signing new players at the end of the season.

According to Tuttosport, the likes of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Paul Pogba and Nicolò Zaniolo are all being monitored by the Serie A giants. Juventus signed Dusan Vlahovic for €80m from Fiorentina in January and the striker has scored two goals in his first five appearances with the club. However, he often looked too isolated up front, so Juventus will need to give him better service and new recruits over the summer would help Allegri and the rest of the team.