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5 players Juventus should target during the winter transfer window

By John Vaccaro

Chelsea's Spanish striker Alvaro Morata (L) fails to score past Liverpool's Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet during the English League Cup third round football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on September 26, 2018. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images)
Chelsea's Spanish striker Alvaro Morata (L) fails to score past Liverpool's Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet during the English League Cup third round football match between Liverpool and Chelsea at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on September 26, 2018. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) /
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DORTMUND, GERMANY – OCTOBER 03: Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax Amsterdam and Franck Ribery of Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Group A match of the UEFA Champions League between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park on October 3, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY – OCTOBER 03: Matthijs de Ligt of Ajax Amsterdam and Franck Ribery of Bayern Muenchen battle for the ball during the Group A match of the UEFA Champions League between Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco at Signal Iduna Park on October 3, 2018 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by TF-Images/TF-Images via Getty Images) /

Matthjis de Ligt: Center Back, Ajax

This one would be more of a luxury buy for Juve’s future than one that would fill a current need. However, 4 of Juve’s 5 center backs are on the wrong side of 30 and Daniele Rugani rarely gets playing time these days. Adding Matthjis de Ligt to the squad would ensure Juventus has a top-level talent to anchor their defense after the center backs currently leading the way have all either retired or moved on to new teams.

The 19-year-old was already on Juve’s radar this summer, but nothing came of the rumors linking Juventus to the young center back. His play during the first couple of months this season should only serve to intensify those links. He has been a force for Ajax so far this season, averaging over a tackle, an interception, and 4.5 clearances per game between the Eredivisie and Champions League. Most impressively, he made 5 tackles against Bayern Munich to help Ajax hold onto a road draw against the top team in their group.

He was also handed the captain’s armband for that match, showing just how much faith Ajax has in the young center back. He still has some developing to do (as most 19 year olds do), so this move would actually be most effective if Juve loaned de Ligt back to Ajax after signing him. They did this with Mattia Caldara and it provided him with the playing time he needed to continue his development into one of Italy’s best young center backs.

De Ligt wouldn’t break into the lineup this season, so Juve would be better off going that same route and letting him get some more playing time until a spot opens up for him over the summer. Ajax also might be more inclined to pick Juve if they give Ajax some time to find a replacement since they will likely need de Ligt for the Champions League knockout stages.

Whether or not the move plays out this way, Juve should sign de Ligt to ensure they remain one of the best defensive teams in the world even as their present studs age.

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