Juventus have a rich history of free-transfer signings, with a few masterstrokes and some flops among them. The most recent window was the first under the current management of Carnevali, Massara and Ottolini, and the club sounded out several players whose contracts were running down. Only one arrived, Zeki Çelik, who immediately became an undroppable starter. It was a blitz driven by Massara, who knew how to work around the indecision of his old club Roma to win over the Turkish full-back.
Raum Is the Name for the Left Side
Another full-back could be the next free-agent signing. David Raum of Leipzig, born in 1998, is among those whose contracts expire next June. A renewal looks rather complicated at the moment, so he is sure to be one of the prized free agents of next summer, and plenty of Europe’s big clubs are ready to pounce.
Juventus have had an empty slot at left-back for some time. Çelik is naturally a right-back, though he can adapt to the opposite flank. The other options aren’t convincing:
- Cambiaso: he is having another low-key season, hoping to have put his injuries behind him.
- Cabal: he doesn’t offer Spalletti enough guarantees.
An attempt for Raum as early as January is possible, but it will certainly not be easy. Another left-back is on the 2027 free-agent list: Crystal Palace’s Tyrick Mitchell. The Englishman lacks Raum’s international pedigree, but he is an ever-present starter in the Premier League and is playing regularly in the Europa League too.
Options in Central Defence
The list is not only full-backs. There are quality centre-backs too, and one of them is in Serie A: Oumar Solet, who stayed at Udinese again this summer. The Friuli club have already changed coach and are at serious risk of relegation. They can exercise a renewal option to 2028 on the Ivorian, who holds a French passport, but he is aiming for a big club.
Juventus had given him some thought in the summer without ever pushing a real negotiation. Fulham’s Calvin Bassey is another with a club option to extend to 2028. The defender was born in Aosta, grew up in England and plays for Nigeria. His market is mainly in the Premier League, but he remains a possibility. Virgil van Dijk’s contract also expires, but he is not a viable route for Juventus given his age and cost.
Spalletti’s Midfield Favourites
The “Italian” options in midfield are more intriguing. Two Napoli players could become free agents if renewals don’t arrive in the coming months: Stanislav Lobotka and Franck Zambo Anguissa. Both are Spalletti favourites, and he won the scudetto with them in Naples.
Another midfielder the coach likes a great deal, though he has never managed him, is Real Madrid’s Brahim Díaz. Massara brought him to Milan when working alongside Maldini, and would gladly bring him back to Italy, to Turin. The operation is still very complicated, as would be a move for a quality midfielder like Manchester City’s Mateo Kovačić.
Mateta in Attack, but With Doubts
In attack, one player whose contract runs out in June 2027 is Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta. Juventus sounded him out several times but dropped the idea definitively in August, as his physical condition still leaves some doubts among interested clubs.
Whoever they target, the club will start from one unshakeable rule: the salary ceiling remains the €7m wage Yildiz earns.
