Hopes are high in Turin. An old favourite is back in charge of the Old Lady and they have their sights set on major glory.
Don’t get me wrong, since Max Allegri departed the Juventus hot seat two summers ago, the club has still enjoyed success.
But despite the 2020 title triumph and last season’s Coppa Italia victory, the experiments of Maurizio Sarri and Andrea Pirlo did not really work.
Juventus have lost their mojo both in Serie A and the Champions League in recent times and now want to rediscover it with Allegri back at the helm.
First will be to get back the Italian title, a trophy they relinquished to big-spending Inter Milan last term despite defeating them twice in the league and the cup.
Indeed, it took a dramatic last few weeks to ensure they even qualified for the Champions League at all.
That they have, now makes a shot at Euro glory another of their main aims.
Not since 1996 have Juventus been kings of Europe and, although Allegri guided them to both the 2015 and 2017 finals, they have yet to make that final step.
So who can help them achieve just that? What recruits are likely this summer?
And can they keep hold of Cristiano Ronaldo who, at 36, remains their talisman and a true class act?
Their spine is emphatically good. The best in Europe in fact – fresh from the bedrock of Italy’s Euro 2020 success.
Giorgio Chiellini’s contract with Juve may have expired. But after playing a key role for the Azzurri, don’t be surprised if the 36-year-old continues in Turin alongside Leonardo Bonucci.
With that spine, there is every faith Allegri’s know-how and experience can bring the Scudetto back to the Allianz Stadium.
Yet who will be responsible for delivering the Serie A 2021 highlights Juve so crave?
And if they are to justify the SBOTOP Serie A 2021 betting odds, how will they fare on the European stage?
Juventus searching for midfield depth
The club is supposedly looking at Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Leandro Paredes as a potential replacement for Arthur Melo during his injury lay-off.
The Brazilian will be out of action for at least three months following surgery to remove a calcified scar from an injury that he sustained in February.
According to La Republica, the Bianconeri have set their sights on Paredes to fill in the gaps.
One report says Juve wants the 27-year-old on loan for the rest of the season with the option of making the transfer permanent next summer.
If they are genuinely pursing his signature, it could bode question marks about the confidence they have in the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot, who could also step in as a replacement for Arthur.
One man continually linked is Sassuolo’s Manuel Locatelli or, as an alternative, injury-prone Bayern Munich midfielder Corentin Tolisso.
Sassuolo are holding out for €40-M for the Euro 2020 winner, who scored twice in the 3-0 victory against Switzerland and played in five out of the seven games as Italy went all the way to clinch the Euro 2020 title.
Juventus have reportedly offered €30-M but as a loan for the 2021-22 season and an obligation to buy next summer.
Sassuolo have turned down the initial offer and said they are not interested in a loan plus obligation to buy transfer. Instead, they want an outright transfer.
Looking further ahead, the club has secured one for the future with teenager Belgian talent Joseph Nonge Boende signing up from RSC Anderlecht.
The midfielder only turned 16 in May but had his medical at the Juventus Continassa centre last week.
He has one cap for Belgium at Under-15 level and is a product of the Anderlecht youth academy.
Will Max Allegri and Cristiano Ronaldo mesh?
Outgoings wise, defenders Daniele Rugani and Merih Demiral are both being tipped to leave the club with Allegri ready to sacrifice those he thinks cannot cut it.
But back to the here and now and Ronaldo.
Since arriving from Real Madrid to great fanfare in the summer of 2018, he has kept up his end of the bargain by scoring freely and boosting the Bianconeri brand.
However, Juve have let him down, failing to provide him with a team capable of challenging for the Champions League.
Indeed, in that sense it was no surprise to see former sporting director Fabio Paratici leave when his contract expired this summer as someone was always going to pay for Juve’s failure in Europe.
Now with Allegri back and Ronaldo having one year left on his contract, could this be the marriage made in heaven?
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