CREMONA, ITALY – NOVEMBER 1: Juventus FC coach Luciano Spalletti reacts during the Serie A game between USA Cremonese and Juventus FC at the Stadio Giovanni Gini on November 1, 2025 in Cremona, Italy. (Photo by Marco M. Mantovani/Getty Images)
Juventus are set to have a busy winter transfer window following the appointment of Luciano Spalletti as manager, but which players should the Bianconeri sign to meet the new manager’s demands?
Spalletti is under contract until the end of the season, but the club has an option to extend until 2027.
The Bianconeri are currently three points clear of the top four and, predictably, Spalletti will need to make some changes to his existing squad when the January transfer window opens.
Despite an eight-match winless streak under Igor Tudor, Punters Page still sees the Bianconeri as one of the top contenders for Champions League qualification in the 2025-26 season, but what will it take for Spalletti to complete Juventus’ squad during the winter transfer window?
It’s no secret that Juventus were looking to sign a new central midfielder in the summer, with Sporting CP Morten Hulmand emerging as a reliable option to strengthen the team’s central squad.
Spalletti wants to have reliable deep playmakers in his team, such as Roma’s David Pizarro or Napoli’s Stanislav Lobotka, and it is entirely possible that the Certaldo-born manager will request a new addition in January.
Let’s not forget that Manuel Locatelli was already playing for the Italian national team under coach Spalletti, but the Juventus captain was ultimately left out of the Euro 2024 squad to make room for Nicolo Fagioli, who had just returned from a gambling ban.
Even Walter Sabatini, who worked with Spalletti at Roma, suggested that the Old Lady might need to sign a new midfielder in the second half of the season.
“Sparetti embodies the beauty and spaciousness of football, from which all players benefit,” Sabatini told Gazzetta earlier this week.
“I’m sure Copeminers will rediscover themselves under Luciano. If they have to find a flow, perhaps Juventus will need more options in midfield.”
Copeminers made his first appearance as a centre-back under Spalletti, contributing to Saturday’s 2-1 win over Cremonese.
The Dutchman was used as a left centre-back in a three-man defence, and was a key help in the build-up at the Stadio Gini, helping Spalletti claim all three points in his first game as Old Lady manager.
However, assuming Spalletti returns to a four-man backline in Turin, the club may also need reinforcements in defence, particularly at full-back where Andrea Cambiaso and Pierre Carles are left without valuable replacements.
Right-back Joao Mario has played just 330 minutes across all competitions this season, while left-back Juan Cabal has recently picked up a new injury and his consistent playing time this season is not guaranteed.
But whatever the new additions, Juventus’ managers will have to work together and listen to the new manager’s demands to avoid the same problems they faced during Igor Tudor’s short reign at the Allianz Stadium, when the Croatian tactician’s transfer requests were largely ignored by the club.
Spalletti’s contract runs until June 2026, and the club will decide at the end of the season whether to extend his term for another season, regardless of whether they qualify for the Champions League.
The Tuscan tactician won the Scudetto with Napoli in 2022/23, but has also coached Empoli, Sampdoria, Venice, Udinese, Roma and Inter in Serie A.
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