With the imminent arrival of Fernando Llorente and the speculation linking Gonzalo Higuain to the club, what does the future hold for Juventus’ forgotten strikers?
The Bianconeri enjoyed yet another successful season where they retained their Serie A title comfortably and went on an admirable Champions League run. Though their ambitions for the prestigious European trophy remain intact, the Scudetto is still of great importance. With five Juventus players having scored over ten goals each, you’d think there wasn’t a problem up-front. However, the quality of strikers has been an issue for Juventus and was seen in their Champions League games where opponents fielded superior firepower. The fact Arturo Vidal was Juventus’ top goalscorer in all competitions this season says it all. They may have proficient Serie A strikers, but Juventus’ attack is poor in comparison with the rest of the European elite.
So why should these arrivals trouble Juventus’ forwards? Llorente scored more goals in the 2011-12 season than Vucinic and Quagliarella managed combined this campaign. At 1.95 metres, the Spaniard is in essence a target-man who possesses excellent touch and finishing that made him a feared adversary in La Liga. Now 28 years-old, the experience he has accumulated will assist him in overcoming Europe’s best defenses. The height and strength he flaunts will be a boon to any strike partner Llorente finds himself paired with. The more speculative arrival of Higuain should provide the Old Lady with the flair and grace up-front she so desperately deserves. Many Juventini have mentioned club legend David Trezeguet when speaking of Higuain, as the two share a mixed Argentinian-French background.
There is no question that the La Liga pair would greatly improve Juventus’ blunted attack, but what of their current strike force? Currently the Bianconeri operate with four recognised attackers that, for the purpose of this article, includes Sebastian Giovinco. The futures of Nicolas Anelka and Niklas Bendtner evidently lie away from Turin as neither has shown reason to stay at the club. For the likes of Manolo Gabbiadini and Ciro Immobile, an immediate role at Juventus seems unlikely at this stage. Antonio Conte prefers to operate with a small squad and therefore the chances of departures in the coming weeks are high. The question is who’s time is up?
Mirko Vucinic seems the least likely to move on as he is favoured by the coach. A shoe-in for the starting spot, the Montenegran would likely partner Fernando Llorente should he be the only forward to arrive this summer. Though he is likely to have many interested parties, particularly from England, Vucinic was the subject of a big-money deal and is tied to a long term contract. For these reasons a sale is not feasible at this time. A move could rely solely on the intentions of the former Roma striker.
The future of Fabio Quagliarella is far less certain. The subject of unrelenting speculation during the season, Quagliarella could well jump ship at the first sign of attacking reinforcements come June. Having played for Udinese and Napoli in the past, the 30 year-old is a seasoned striker who has a penchant for scoring outrageous goals. There is no question another Serie A outfit would be mad keen on securing Quagliarella’s services, and with playing time looking elusive, the forward could choose to move on. There are rumors that Juventus could seek to use Quagliarella as a bargaining tool in an offer for Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic, which could tempt the Viola into selling. This inclusion would provide Fiorentina with an ample replacement for their best player.
If Quagliarella’s future is unclear, then Alessandro Matri’s is totally unknown. Another one of Conte’s preferred choices, Matri has been one of the more reliable goal poachers for Juventus, but only by the smallest of margins. Matri has been perpetually linked with a return to his boyhood club Milan, with the player himself sending out mixed messages regarding such a move. Despite this uncertainty, Matri has added two more years to his current deal and seems intent on seeing out his contract with the Bianconeri. The 28 year-old would be a great asset to a team looking to compete on various fronts.
Sebastian Giovinco seems likely to remain. With competition for every position on the field, it’s unsurprising Giovinco has found the going tough since returning to the club he joined seventeen years ago. Despite the criticism, Giovinco has in fact performed admirably this season, finishing as the fourth best goalscorer ahead of Matri. He is arguably more effective out wide, where unfortunately he finds even more competition for a starting place. His seven league assists show just how helpful ‘the atomic ant’ has been going forward for Juventus this season. He’s also a product of their illustrious youth set-up; a feature that holds him in good stead amongst the fans. His industrious nature and willingness to improve could secure him a place in Conte’s side next season.
For other alternatives, the chances are limited as the coach is seeking to use a tightly knit team to progress further in the Champions League. In this kind of competition, only the very best can be afforded time and space. For these reasons, I’ve predicted the following four will be contenders for the Juventus first team next season: Llorente, Vucinic, Matri and Higuain should he arrive. Giovinco should stay but be deployed in a wide position, as the striking role has proven to be very physically demanding for the 26 year-old. Younger alternatives should seek loan moves and the likes of Bendtner and Anelka should leave. 
Quagliarella has the quality to lead a Serie A side and therefore should seek first team opportunities elsewhere.
At this stage this is all, of course, hypothetical. But the Juventus’ attack leaves much to be desired and wholesale changes up-front could so easily take place. Having demonstrated an excellent team model and some of the finest defending in the country, the team could look to upgrade on the offensive end. The new stadium and recent Serie A title would have given the hierarchy cash to spend, with players around the world more than willing to join the Italian champions. With that said, they would be unwise to make dramatic changes to what is a title winning side and simple replacements would suit the team better on a whole. It’s obvious the Old Lady have the will to succeed, but they lack the proper tools to go far in European competitions.
Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156
