Juventus plans for midfield: Milinkovic-Savic, Tonali and Hjulmand

Juventus is facing a pressing need to strengthen its midfield. The start of the season has exposed clear weaknesses in the center of the pitch under coach Igor Tudor’s system.

Currently, the team is lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, where Khephren Thuram and Manuel Locatelli have mainly occupied the two central midfield roles ahead of the defense. Teun Koopmeiners has served as the primary backup, with limited additional options.

Other squad members like Vasilije Adzic, Weston McKennie, and Fabio Miretti have been called upon but have yet to convince fully. Numerically and in terms of technical variety, Juventus’s midfield still lacks depth and creativity.

Khephren Thuram 📸

While Thuram brings athleticism and Locatelli offers tactical intelligence, the midfield often feels short on imagination and defensive solidity.

Most notably, Juventus has been without a true playmaker—someone to dictate tempo and protect the backline—since the days of Miralem Pjanic. The hope that Douglas Luiz might fill this role has not materialized.

Eyeing January and summer transfers

The club’s management, led by sporting director Damien Comolli, is aware that the midfield requires significant upgrades. Plans are already underway for both the upcoming January transfer window and next summer’s market.

At the top of Juventus’s wishlist for January is Sergej Milinkovic-Savic. Once a Lazio star, Milinkovic-Savic has been playing for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia since 2023. According to TuttoSport, Juventus has already made exploratory moves to gauge the midfielder’s availability.

Sergej Milinkovic-Savic 📸

His contract with the Saudi club expires in June, and Juve hopes to capitalize on this by negotiating a deal in January. This timing could allow Juventus to secure him at a more affordable price, considering his imminent free-agent status.

Milinkovic-Savic, born in 1995, is a known quantity in Serie A, which plays to Juventus’s advantage. However, his two years in the less intense Saudi league raise questions about his current competitive sharpness.

Sandro Tonali 📸

On the more ambitious side is Sandro Tonali, currently playing in the Premier League for Newcastle United. Juventus views Tonali as a dream signing, though his acquisition seems less likely in the short term.

The English club values the Italian midfielder highly, demanding at least €60 million. Additionally, Tonali’s salary expectations—around €6 to €7 million per year—would be a significant financial commitment for Juventus.

Lastly, Juventus has its eyes on Danish midfielder Morten Hjulmand, formerly of Lecce and now with Sporting Lisbon. The club pursued Hjulmand during the last summer transfer window but was deterred by the Portuguese club’s steep asking price of €70 million.

Morten Hjulmand 📸

Juventus considers Hjulmand a perfect fit for the team’s tactical needs and is reportedly ready to revisit negotiations if Sporting Lisbon lowers its demands.

In summary, Juventus’s midfield faces clear challenges that management is eager to address. Whether through the immediate signing of Milinkovic-Savic or the pursuit of Tonali and Hjulmand for next summer, the club is preparing to invest in quality reinforcements.

This strategic focus aims to blend experience, creativity, and defensive balance, ultimately supporting Igor Tudor’s vision and restoring Juventus’s competitive edge in Serie A and Europe.

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