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6 moves Juventus should make before the transfer window closes

By John Vaccaro

STADIO OLIMPICO, ROMA, ITALY - 2019/11/24: Sandro Tonali of Brescia Calcio and Edin Dzeko of AS Roma compete for the ball during the Serie A football match between AS Roma and Brescia Calcio. AS Roma won 3-0 over Brescia Calcio. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli/LightRocket via Getty Images)
STADIO OLIMPICO, ROMA, ITALY - 2019/11/24: Sandro Tonali of Brescia Calcio and Edin Dzeko of AS Roma compete for the ball during the Serie A football match between AS Roma and Brescia Calcio. AS Roma won 3-0 over Brescia Calcio. (Photo by Andrea Staccioli/LightRocket via Getty Images) /
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STADIO LUIGI FERRARIS, GENOA, ITALY – 2019/11/30: Cristian Romero (L) of Genoa CFC is challenged by Lorenzo De Silvestri of Torino FC during the Serie A football match between Genoa CFC and Torino FC. Torino FC won 1-0 over Genoa CFC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images)
STADIO LUIGI FERRARIS, GENOA, ITALY – 2019/11/30: Cristian Romero (L) of Genoa CFC is challenged by Lorenzo De Silvestri of Torino FC during the Serie A football match between Genoa CFC and Torino FC. Torino FC won 1-0 over Genoa CFC. (Photo by Nicolò Campo/LightRocket via Getty Images) /

Recall Cristian Romero

I know there have been reports that Juve isn’t going to make this move, but I really don’t see another option for them. Now that Merih Demiral’s season is over, Juve only has 2 fully healthy center backs on the roster right now. Those two are Daniele Rugani and Leonardo Bonucci. Matthijs de Ligt looked like he was back to normal on Sunday, but we don’t know that his shoulder is back to 100% yet. Juve is also supposed to get Giorgio Chiellini back next month, but I don’t really know how much faith Juve can put in an aging player’s ability to stay healthy when they are returning from a serious knee injury. They shouldn’t go into the second half of the season operating under the assumption that Giorgio Chiellini is going to be able to get back into the starting lineup as soon as he’s back or that he’s going to be able to stay healthy throughout the rest of the season.

Instead, they should be prepared for the possibility that their luck doesn’t turn around with their center backs and they need another player available to step up in the second half of the season. Recalling Cristian Romero from his loan at Genoa is the best insurance plan available to Juve. He is a more talented player than any of the players that they could bring in on a short-term loan to finish out the season. They also shouldn’t be looking to sign another center back because they wouldn’t have a real path to playing time next season.

Daniele Rugani has never shown the level of quality needed for Juve to be able to depend on him as a starter, so they shouldn’t put themselves into a situation where all it takes is a couple of injuries to players in their 30s for Rugani to become an important piece of this squad. The only reason Juve isn’t trying to sell him during this transfer window. Instead, they need to get them somebody who might actually be able step into a starting role reliably.

Romero hasn’t really been able to show off his talents on an awful Genoa team this season, but I think a move to Juve would help bring out his best. If nothing else, I can’t imagine there would be a drop-off from Rugani to him.

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