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We’ve seen Juventus take on different kinds of transfer strategies over the last couple of summers. Two years ago, it was about getting the squad younger, getting players who grow and replace older options who had left months or weeks prior. This past summer it was different, it was about players with experience, established names who are already some of the best at their respective positions.
Where the majority of the non-Axel Witsel rumors currently lie, it’s more of the first part of that transfer strategy than the second. Much, much more.
Depending on who you read in the Italian press on Monday, a deal for Atalanta defender Mattia Caldara is either close to being or has already been locked up. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are getting closer and closer to wrapping up a deal for the 22-year-old Atalanta central defender who has been one of Serie A’s breakout youngsters this season. Others, namely Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, are saying that a deal is pretty much done with the difficult parts of the negotiations out of the way after the two clubs’ latest conversations.
Pretty much everybody is saying that a deal between Juventus and Atalanta for Caldara will involve an initial transfer fee anywhere between €15 million and €20 million with €5 million in bonuses potentially there to be tacked on as time goes by.
Marotta also had this to say about a potential Caldara signing:
Marotta: "Caldara & Gagliardini are two interesting players, our first objective is to sign the best young players."
— Khaledalnouss (@khaledalnouss1) December 19, 2016
Based on what Caldara has done with Atalanta this season, I think it’s safe to say that he is one of the best young players — at least in Serie A — that Juventus can try and sign in January or over the summer. He has been a huge part of Atalanta’s success this season, and has really been a standout player on a team that is absolutely filled with young players bigger clubs will be trying to sign in January and over the summer.
I don’t know about you, but a combination of Caldara and Daniele Rugani, both currently 22 years old and just tapping into their potential, holding down the Juventus defense along with Leonardo Bonucci is a nice little thing to think about for the future.