epa10792192 Sporting director of Juventus Cristiano Giuntoli during the pre season training soccer match between Juventus black and Juventus white, in Turin, Italy, 09 August 2023. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
epa10792192 Sporting director of Juventus Cristiano Giuntoli during the pre season training soccer match between Juventus black and Juventus white, in Turin, Italy, 09 August 2023. EPA-EFE/ALESSANDRO DI MARCO
Juventus director Cristiano Giuntoli confirms they are ‘checking out’ Feyenoord defender David Hancko and gives a better idea of where Teun Koopmeiners can play this season.
The trip to Monza kicks off at the U-Power Stadium at 19.45 GMT.
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from today’s four Serie A games on the Liveblog.
The pressure is really on the Bianconeri to find a new gear, as while they are unbeaten in the league this season, they have drawn the last four in a row including against rock bottom Venezia.
A total 10 draws and six victories is not enough to challenge for the top spots, but confidence was boosted by the 4-0 Coppa Italia win over Cagliari midweek.
Giuntoli has said already that Juventus will sign at least one defender in January, so was asked specifically about Feyenoord centre-back David Hancko.
“We are looking around. Hancko is a good player we’ve been checking out for a while, he is not the only one, but we certainly need to do something for the defence,” Giuntoli told DAZN.
Giuntoli outlines Juventus plans
LECCE, ITALY - DECEMBER 01: Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus after the Serie A match between Lecce and Juventus at Stadio Via del Mare on December 01, 2024 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
LECCE, ITALY – DECEMBER 01: Teun Koopmeiners of Juventus after the Serie A match between Lecce and Juventus at Stadio Via del Mare on December 01, 2024 in Lecce, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)
Injuries continue to pile up for Juventus, as Danilo, Timothy Weah, Douglas Luiz, Arek Milik, Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal did not make the trip to Monza.
However, it is the first time in all competition that Juve have started Dusan Vlahovic, Francisco Conceicao, Kenan Yildiz and Nico Gonzalez together.
This means Teun Koopmeiners has been pulled back into a midfield role, so was the former Atalanta man signed to play as a trequartista or a midfielder?
“When we pictured the team starting from scratch, we knew that we couldn’t do everything at the same time, so we’ll see in the next few transfer windows what that image will be,” explained Giuntoli.
“We had this opportunity to sign a great player like Koop, who can give us a lot as a midfielder, a playmaker and other roles too.
“He has come very close to scoring goals, had some disallowed, gone close to assists too along with the two he scored. He is a very versatile player who is open to different systems and positions. We are very happy to have him with us and are confident he will continue to improve.”
If there is talk of new signings, then are Juventus also open to potential sales in January, such as Nicolò Fagioli and Douglas Luiz?
“Right now our intention is to cover the two big injuries we have in defence. In all honesty, we wouldn’t want to lose anyone, but we’ll see what the transfer market says.”
Giuntoli has already said that the reason they are not looking for a new striker is because Arkadiusz Milik should soon return after missing the whole season with knee surgery.
“Milik is doing well, he has started working on the pitch, we expect him to be back training with the team in two to three weeks.”
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