The next steps for Juventus as Giuntoli gets settled - opinion

Released after lengthy conversations with Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis, on the last possible day, June 30th, the watershed date between the season that is over and the one to come, Cristiano Giuntoli can finally join Juventus.

The official presentation will probably take place at the club's training camp later this month, although the new chief is already hard at work.

For him, a senior role is envisaged, alongside sporting director Giovanni Manna and general manager Francesco Calvo.

First thing's first: meeting with Massimiliano Allegri to understand how to revolutionise the team; on which pawns to work to improve it and on the basis of the game the coach will want to play - and, on this point, there could already be some developments...

Selling redundant players

After having lowered the wage bill with the farewells of Argentine duo Angel Di Maria and Leandro Paredes, and Colombia icon Juan Cuadrado, Juventus must thin their squad; starting with returning players, Kulusevski has been sold to Tottenham, but Denis Zakaria, Arthur Melo and Weston McKennie are still to be sold.

The chiefs in Turin are expecting good news from Giovanni Manna, who will try to find an agreement with West Ham for Zakaria, while something will have to be worked out for Arthur and McKennie after both endured difficult seasons in England.

Thinning the wage bill

After the sale of the returning loanees, Juventus will purge the squad further, given the 120 million euros to be recovered and absences from the cups - and probably from the Conference League, too, if Juve want to settle amicably with UEFA amid a jaded relationship.

At the forefront is the likely transfer of Alex Sandro, for whom an automatic renewal was recently triggered, which means the player now receives a net salary of six million euros per year. Also in doubt is the future of Wojciech Szczęsny, who also earns a little over six million euros per year. 

As much as the Polish goalkeeper is well esteemed in Italy, the sting of his departure would in any case be alleviated by the good performances offered by fellow shot-stopper Mattia Perin, who in contrast earns just shy of two million euros per year. Though, if this shuffling of the pack was cemented, his salary would be revised.

The club has also informed Leonardo Bonucci, who is on almost seven million euros per year, that he is free to pick his own fate; whether to continue for a season in Turin or choose to continue his career elsewhere - making no secret of the fact that the latter solution would be preferred. 

Pogba, Vlahovic and Chiesa

At the top of the list of salaries sits Paul Pogba and Dusan Vlahovic, as well as Adrein Rabiot, who has already renewed for one year. 

The former most gets eight million euros per year and, given the contribution he made last season, with endless physical problems, Juve would prefer a proper transfer. 

That isn't the wish of the player, however, who in words and actions has made it clear he wants to be a protagonist this coming season, working hard in the summer and showing up first at the Continassa.

It seems that an intermediary has spoken to some emissaries from Saudi Arabia to discuss the physical condition of the player, specifying that Juventus are open to the transfer, but no offers have arrived yet.

It is a different case for Vlahovic and Federico Chiesa, whose contribution - admittedly not excellent - have at least been in terms of games played, compared to the Frenchman's 161 minutes. 

For them, a wage cut would only be justified by the club's need to find money. One of the two could be sold, but it also depends on the offers that may arrive.

If Juve are asking for 60 million euros for Chiesa, they will want to start from a base of 80 million euros for Vlahovic. Bayern and Arsenal are interested, but at the moment they have other priorities.

Signings: from the flanks to the Sergeant's dream

On the purchase front, Juventus have already made their first strike with Timothy Weah, the winger signed from Lille.

However, George's son will have to prove that he deserves a starting role and, at least in the beginning, that is not an obvious call. 

For the flank, Fabiano Parisi of Empoli is also of great interest - tomorrow there will be another meeting between the clubs, with Juventus proposing seven million euros and a quid pro quo.

Paolo Zanetti likes Filippo Ranocchia, but Fabio Miretti and Matias Soule are also apparent options.

Lille and Empoli, Weah's and Parisi's home teams, are also two clubs with whom Giuntoli has often done business, so his hand appears clear, and consent to operations already agreed.

On the midfield front, with Pogba in doubt, Juventus will surely crack on with Rabiot, Nicolo Fagioli and Manuel Locatelli - and cultivate the Sergej Milinkovic-Savic dream, perhaps if the Frenchman were to leave.

For the Serbian midfielder, with his contract expiring in 2024, Claudio Lotito asks for at least 30 million euros. Another option, who Giuntoli likes, and which he makes no secret, is Teun Koopmeiners, whom is also wanted at Napoli.

In attack, everything will depend on possible departures - with Arkadiusz Milik redeemed by Marseille, Moise Kean could also be sold in the event of an offer, while if Vlahovic were to be sold, one of Giuntoli's favourites is Canadian striker Jonathan David of Lille.