Juventus have been linked with a host of strikers in January and Lorenzo Bettoni believes Mauro Icardi would be the most suitable to solve Max Allegri’s problems up front.
With only 23 goals scored in 17 Serie A matches, Juventus have the worst attacking record among the top ten clubs in Italy. Looking at the second part of the standings, there are clubs like Bologna, Hellas Verona, Sassuolo and Sampdoria who have found the net more frequently than the Old Lady this term.
Paulo Dybala is their best scorer with eight goals in 17 appearances, followed by Alvaro Morata who has six in 21 matches.
A new striker is the Bianconeri’s priority in the January transfer window. Despite Dusan Vlahovic being their No.1 target, Juventus don’t seem to have the financial strength to get the Fiorentina star.
Why Tottenham and Manchester City lead Juventus in the race to sign Vlahovic
The likes of Mauro Icardi, Edinson Cavani, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Gianluca Scamacca and Anthony Martial have been linked with a move to Turin in January, but who would be the best option for the Serie A giants?
Juventus need a striker who can have an immediate impact on the pitch without affecting their finances. Their target is to make the team more competitive without spending crazy money and even trying to lower their wage bill by selling some of their outcasts, including Aaron Ramsey, Arthur and Dejan Kulusevski.
Icardi seems a perfect fit not just for his experience in Serie A but also because of his transfer value and salary.
The former Inter captain scored 124 goals in 219 appearances with the Nerazzurri and is not getting regular playing time in Paris. He’s only scored three goals in 18 appearances, starting just six games in Ligue 1.
His salary is in the region of €9m-a-year but is still lower than those of Martial and Aubameyang (€15m-a-year) and (Cavani €13m-a-year). Scamacca doesn’t get as much as them, but Sassuolo don’t want to sell him on loan with an option to buy, neither in January nor at the end of the season.
The Italian striker has scored five goals in 17 Serie A appearances this term and Sassuolo’s demands are in the region of €40m. A fee that Juventus’ can’t afford in January.
Juventus plot January deal for Icardi amid rumours of disagreements with Messi
On the other hand, PSG could be open to selling Icardi on loan with an option or an obligation to buy, especially if Icardi asks to leave the club.
It’s worth noticing that by signing Icardi, Martial, or Aubameyang, Juventus would get tax cuts and facilitations thanks to the so-called ‘Growth decree.’
Last week, PSG boss Mauricio Pochetino said he hopes Icardi stays in Paris, although it is ‘still early’ to talk about the winter transfer window.
Contrary to Martial, Icardi is a classic centre forward who would adapt immediately to Serie A football, having already played for many years in Italy.
Martial is something in between a centre forward and an attacking winger and has scored more than ten Premier League goals only twice in his career: 11 in 2015-16 and 17 in 2019-20.
He’s an exciting striker with ample room for improvement, but Juventus can no longer think about the long-term future and must solve their problems here and now.
They are eight points behind a Champions League spot and are desperate to score more goals. That’s why they can’t rely on somebody who plays in Serie A for the first time in his career and has never scored consistently. That’s why Juventus need Icardi much more than they need Martial.
@lorebetto
I agree with this article mostly, however, whatever striker comes in, he will need service! so a DM midfielder needs to come in too to give the likes of Locatelli more licence to create, and a new full back who can cross a ball would be nice too.
If these deals are loans I wouldn’t rule out trying to sign both Icardi and Martial. I think Martial would do really well in Italy and be a good partner with Icardi and Dybala
Is anyone proof-reading the article before posting?
“A fee that Juventus’ can’ afford in January.” – they can or they can`t?
Edinson Cavani will never join juBentus, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seems done (another victim of Arsenal after Sanchez), Gianluca Scamacca is Inter bound (Marotta already placed initial bid) and Anthony Martial might be too much trouble.
I really hope juBentus can bring the Inter reject back, it will be fun to watch how the dressing room will handle him LOL. Not to mention Wanda back! This way Piemonte Calcio will waste resources on a position that is not actually needed (Morata is still there until summer, Chiesa will recover).
What The Old Lady needs is a complete overhaul in the midfield (except Locatelli). Rovella alone won`t be enough. Problem is, they need to offload first.
Good luck finding clubs stupid enough to pay for these mercenary` salaries, let alone transfer fees!
Martial seems like a real waste of money. 268 games at Man United and just 79 goals?! That is not a good statistic. Before that, he ad 15 goals in 70 at Monaco. For France, he has 2 goals in 70 caps! This is really not great for an attacking player. Sure, he can play as a winger and get assists but that is not what Juve need. And there is NO WAY Martial is suddenly going to become the next Henry. He is too old.
So yeah, buy Icardi, He is a scumbag but he is one that will average around 1.5 goals every 2 games. That is what Juve need
Icardi on loan with no obligation and sell Ramsey to Newcastle. I don’t see any problems with the midfield. Bentancur and Locatelli in the middle with Dybala in front of them. Chiesa and Kula wide. Need someone like Icardi to finish chances.
The midfield and style of play remain the problem. Icardi adds nothing to the team. They can’t provide service and Icardi will just stand in the box like a tree waiting for a ball at his feet. Ibra who is 40 years old probably has more movement, character and grit. The waste of money continues at Juve. Hey they have it so let them continue throwing it away. Fix your midfield, add more dynamism, hunger and pace to your team and the goals will come. Not by adding another 1 trick pony like they always do.
@I MISS JUVENTUS IN SERIE B: If Carini Can be sold to get Cannavaro then anything is possible ! If someone was dumb enough to offer 26 mill + Zaniolo for a 30 year old Nainggolan then anything is possible ! if someone gives Seedorf to get Coco then anything is possible !! See where i’m going with this ???
If Icardi does come to Juve it will be mandatory that he celebrates against his former team !!!
@ Marco Branca – Sorry we cannot see where you are going – can you clarify please?
@Branca, Hahaha… Well said! 😂
@I MISS MARCO BRANCA: Everyone know about those infamous transfers. Cannavaro did not perform at Inter and there was off-the-pitch interference from juBentus so he would be sold. Evaluating Carini at the same value was unfortunate indeed. Who knows what went down behind the scenes?
Seedorf had to leave because of locker-room dispute with Ronaldo, and Coco seemed like a good NT player back then, before all his injuries.
Nainggolan transfer also made sense, before he decided to give up on his career. Many people were against him considering his lifestyle and smoking habit, but Spalletti was pushing for him. Zaniolo turned out as talented young man, but has yet to prove his estimated value, especially following his injuries.
I have no problem with Icardi celebrating against Inter. To be honest, I don`t expect otherwise given his toxic narcisistic nature and lack of respect for everyone. Why is this so exciting for you LOL? I will celebrate if juBentus are indeed signing him!
Stop living in the past dude, Branca is not coming back. We have Marotta now, securing our present & future. What was Agnelli thinking when he let him go!?
Icardi? Oh that player Inter couldn’t win with? Who once they kicked out they started scoring way more goals collectively? That’s that loventus wants? A team that already struggles to play good football and control matches wants a guy who barely touches the ball?
@I MISS JUVENTUS IN SERIE B: Stop Living in the past ? LMFAO !!!! You can’t have a discussion with interisti without mentioning things that happened over 10 years ago !! and who can blame them, like who wants to remember finishing 6th9th5th8th4th7th for 6 years! Who wants to be reminded that Juve set the record for 9 consecutive scudetti while inter set the italian record as the only Italian team to fail to pass the Champions League group stage 3 years in a row ?
I don’t care who Juve gets, as long as they don’t Give John Carew a call or pickup Tomasso Rocchi i’m good !!
PS – I can’t believe someone that would trade Carini for Cannavaro would get a 12 year contract extension !!
@Urban Sombrero:
I MISS JUVENTUS IN SERIE B said the following “Good luck finding clubs stupid enough to pay for these mercenary` salaries, let alone transfer fees!”
so I gave them examples of a team that was stupid enough by giving the following examples:
If Carini Can be sold to get Cannavaro then anything is possible ! If someone was dumb enough to offer 26 mill + Zaniolo for a 30 year old Nainggolan then anything is possible ! if someone gives Seedorf to get Coco then anything is possible !! See where i’m going with this ???
Icardi was a great finisher at Inter, but there’s too much baggage with him now.
As for YET ANOTHER has-been/waster arriving from the epl – please, Serie A sides, stop signing the leftovers from England.
Icardi is a poisoned chalice. Fantastic footballer but a troubled person. He would be great for Juve for as long as they keep him under control. Also a great penalty taker
@ I want to give marco branca a BJ – No, I still cannot get what you are alluding to. can you be clearer please?
whoever wrote he has 70 caps for France is dead wrong…he has had 30!!!!
Buy Icardi or Cavani not Martial
Martial should play for a mid-table club. He would take the positions of young/homegrown talents at Juventus for no good reason
midfield, midfield midfield. that should be juves focus
why Icardi ?
simply cuz Martial sucks.