This summer, when Thiago Motta stepped into the Allianz Stadium with great ambition, he never expected that half a year later, the team he coached, the traditional Serie A powerhouse Juventus, would remain undefeated in the league after more than half the season, but the record of 7 wins and 10 draws in 17 games was particularly embarrassing. The once fluid and dynamic offense seen in Bologna was nowhere to be found, and Juventus' sluggish offensive performance matched the club's nickname - "the old lady" - so perfectly!
Juventus' main center forward, Vlahovic, has performed mediocrely under Motta. The Serbian star is Juventus' highest-valued player at a staggering 70 million euros. In 15 Serie A appearances, he has only scored 7 goals and contributed 1 assist, barely reaching an acceptable level, which does not match his high price tag. The lack of offensive power is a pain point for Motta, and he is bound to make moves in the upcoming winter transfer window, especially in the forward position.
This season, the Premier League giants Manchester United have had many ups and downs. After replacing Dutch coach Ten Hag mid-season, the Portuguese young coach took office but did not bring substantial changes to the team, and even caused a series of turmoil. They will handle a batch of players in the winter window to rebuild the team.
Ten Hag's important signing, Onana, has been inconsistent since arriving at Old Trafford. He made mistakes in matches against Nottingham Forest and Viktoria Plzen, and then directly conceded a goal from a corner on Boxing Day against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Rashford, the "Red Devil Prince," was relegated to the bench due to the "dressing room leak scandal" and has not appeared in the squad for four consecutive games. The Dutch forward Zirkzee, who was brought in for 36.5 million pounds this summer, has not lived up to his attacking potential and does not fit into Manchester United's system or the rhythm of the Premier League. These three are all targets for Manchester United's winter clean-up.
Rashford has accepted the outcome of being shown the door by Manchester United, and the player also claims he will accept new challenges to prove himself again. His agent recommended the English international to Juventus, who are short of forwards, but Motta is not very interested in Rashford. After all, such "troublemaker" type players are not well-received in the transfer market. The most direct example is Pogba. The French star forced Mourinho out of Manchester United and then came to Juventus, where he was completely let down. Learning from experience, Juventus benefited greatly from this absurd transaction. Therefore, Juventus rejected the opportunity to sign Rashford.
Zirkzee, who once proved himself in Serie A, was highly regarded by Manchester United, but so far he has only scored 3 goals, a performance that is completely pretending to be a professional player. The Dutchman is too slow, both in speed and in turning and passing, a style that matches the rhythm of Serie A perfectly. Juventus is willing to provide Zirkzee with a way out of Old Trafford and reunite the Dutch forward with Thiago Motta.
Zirkzee and Motta had a good partnership during their time in Bologna, when the Dutch star grew into an exciting front-line ace across Europe. Due to financial constraints, Manchester United will seriously consider Juventus' offer for Zirkzee in the January transfer window. Manchester United's psychological price is around 40 million euros, which seems overpriced considering Zirkzee's performance on the field. It will then depend on Motta's determination to sign his beloved player. If Juventus' offer is not suitable, Manchester United may offer 60 million euros plus Zirkzee to bid for Lautaro Martinez, the Argentine World Cup champion striker from Inter Milan.
According to famous Italian Sky Sports journalist DiMazio, Juventus has informed their captain Danilo that he can transfer away. Napoli coach Conte appreciates Danilo and believes he is the perfect candidate to strengthen the defense. The 33-year-old Brazilian has realized that he is no longer a priority choice in Juventus' defensive line and has agreed to join Conte's team, making the deal increasingly close to completion. The Brazilian defender's value is within 5 million euros, offering great cost-effectiveness.