Ranking Juventus Midfield Targets: Ambition, Risk & Potential Game-Changer | OneFootball

After missing out on Champions League qualification, record-time Serie A champions Juventus are preparing for a massive summer overhaul. Despite Dusan Vlahovic’s imminent departure, head coach Luciano Spalletti is particularly keen on reinforcing the midfield department.

Juventus desperately lacked creativity this past season. Not even a decent-looking average of 1.6 goals per game was enough to mask the problem. To better illustrate the depth of the issue, newly crowned champions Inter outscored the Bianconeri by a staggering 28 goals in Serie A.

Needless to say, heads are about to roll.

Once considered among the most reliable deep-lying midfielders in Serie A, Teun Koopmeiners joined Juventus from Atalanta in a €60 million deal in 2024. Fast forward two years, and the Dutch star looks set to leave Turin as a flop, with the club ready to cash in on the 28-year-old.

Khephren Thuram is unlikely to face the same fate, even though Inter have earmarked him as one of their potential targets to strengthen their midfield options. However, it’s hard to discard this transfer just yet, especially if Cristian Chivu’s charges fail to sign Roma talisman Manu Kone.

Captain Manuel Locatelli seems safe, but after registering just two assists across 36 league outings last term, he’s not exactly the beacon of creativity Spalletti needs to steer Juventus back on track. Widely expected to dip into the market in search of a more progressive profile, the Bianconeri have already identified several reinforcements.

Without further ado, let’s rank the top three.

#3 Brahim Diaz (Real Madrid)

No stranger to Serie A, Brahim Diaz enjoyed a superb three-year stint at AC Milan before returning to Real Madrid in 2023. However, after failing to secure regular first-team football at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Moroccan playmaker could leave La Liga in the coming months.

Ambidextrous and technically gifted, Diaz would likely be an immediate upgrade on Edon Zhegrova and Koopmeiners, who are heading for the exit. For context, the diminutive star garnered eight assists in 30 league games last season, three more than the entire Juventus midfield combined.

Yet, Diaz won’t come cheap. Although his contract in Madrid expires at the end of next season, Los Blancos have slapped a substantial €40-45 million price tag on his shoulders. As if that’s not concerning enough, Premier League giants Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly vying for his signature.

Given the circumstances, this transfer is unlikely to happen. Let’s give this a 3/10.

#2 Tijjani Reijnders (Manchester City)

Another former Milan player has found himself on Juventus’ shortlist heading into the summer transfer window. Only a year after leaving the Rossoneri to join Manchester City in a deal worth £46.5 million, Tijjani Reijnders could return to Serie A. Aware of City’s readiness to negotiate the transfer, Juventus have entered the race.

Reijnders was a beast at Milan. During his two-year stint at San Siro, he established himself as one of Europe’s finest midfielders. Skilled, fast, and lethal in front of goal, the 27-year-old is a prototype of an ideal modern-day midfielder. But for some reason, he has failed to settle at the Etihad Stadium.

After a promising start to his Premier League career, Reijnders fell down the pecking order, with Pep Guardiola leaving him rooted to the bench in the second half of the 2025/26 season. Reluctant to play second fiddle at any club, the Dutchman could request a transfer this summer.

Man City might be willing to listen to offers for Reijnders, yet prising him away from the Etihad will be anything but straightforward. However, if the Turin heavyweights are serious about restoring their status among Italy’s elite, this is precisely the type of ambitious move they should pursue.

All things considered, it comes in at a solid but unspectacular 5/10.

#1 Davide Frattesi (Inter Milan)

Inter went to great lengths to fend off Atletico Madrid’s advances last summer, perhaps driven by Chivu’s pre-season vow to rekindle Davide Frattesi’s career at Giuseppe Meazza. Since the Romanian coach failed to live up to his word in 2025/26, the time has finally come for the former Sassuolo man to part ways with the Nerazzurri.

Despite his bit-part role at Inter, Frattesi remains a household name in Serie A and a permanent fixture in the national team’s setup. In addition, Spalletti is a long-term admirer of the 26-year-old, whom he coached during his time in Italy’s dugout. The pair could reunite at the Allianz Stadium this summer.

In fact, talks between the clubs are already underway. Inter’s €30 million asking price could be a stumbling block, although a figure close to €25 million could be enough to seal the deal. Yet, time may be a critical factor here, especially now that Nottingham Forest have revived their interest in Frattesi.

With Frattesi preferring to stay in his homeland and Spalletti ready to offer him an escape route from Meazza, we’re looking at a solid 7/10.