Midfielders Juventus should target in the transfer market to replace Paul Pogba
- Pogba could be banned from football for four years due to a doping violation
- Juventus are keen to replace the midfielder
- 90min assesses potential replacements for the 2018 World Cup winner
2023 hasn't exactly been a banner year for Juventus football club.
So far this year, Juve have:
- Been banned from European competitions
- Seen midfield star Nicolo Fagioli be included in an investigation into illegal gambling
- Been deducted 10 points for false accounting
- Seen highest paid player Paul Pogba fail a drugs test and face a potential four-year ban.
So, yes...not a banner year for the club.
While the Pogba news is quite disastrous, there are plenty of options for Juventus to take a look at to replace him during the January transfer window.
And here's a few of them:
1. Eberechi Eze
It's 2023 and we're citing a Crystal Palace player as a Paul Pogba replacement for Juventus knowing full well that the club don't have a hope in hell of being able to afford him.
That says a lot about where Juventus, and the Serie A in general, is financially right now.
Financial impossibilities aside however, Eberechi Eze would be as perfect a replacement for Paul Pogba (the fit and good and not banned for doping Paul Pogba) as you're ever likely to find.
The England international has an X-factor. His creative prowess and work rate have made him one of the most lauded attacking midfielders in the Premier League over the last 12 months.
2. Teun Koopemeiners
Reports in Italy have suggested that Teun Koopmeiners is Cristiano Giuntoli's 'priority target' to replace Pogba.
If you have watched any Serie A football over the last 18 months, you'll have seen why.
The Dutch international scored an impressive 10 goals for Atalanta last season, and already has two to his name at the start of the current campaign. With Juve's midfielders currently struggling in front of goal - the whole unit has scored a combined one goal in the opening eight games of the 2023/24 campaign - bringing in one with an eye for goal would make a lot of sense.
3. Lazar Samardzic
Along with Koopmeiners, Lazar Samardzic's name has also popped up in the Italian sports papers too.
The young Serbian international was one of the breakout stars of the 2022/23 Serie A season thanks to his quick dribbling and flare for the odd extraordinary goal (check out the one he scored against Cremonense).
4. Khephren Thuram
90min recently reported that Juventus have joined Liverpool, PSG, Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur in the race to sign Khephren Thuram.
The 22-year-old, as you can tell by the size of the clubs interested in his services, is a pretty damn good footballer.
What is said to give Juve the edge over other suitors is the fact that Khephren's father, Lilian, previously played for the club and is keen to see his son follow in his footsteps.
5. Manu Kone
If Juventus want a player with the exact same dribbling technique as Pogba, then Manu Kone is the man for the job.
If Juventus want a player who can do a bit of everything for them in the middle of the park, then Manu Kone is the man for the job too.
He's a serious player.
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