Report: Danilo has become Juventus’ top choice to replace Dani Alves

Dani Alves is heading out. It’s no longer just paper talk anymore. There hasn’t been an announcement from Juventus just yet, but when you see somebody like Alves himself take to Instagram and post something serious instead of him singing along to Brazilian music as he’s driving to training, there’s something on the horizon.

And that means the talk of finding Alves’ replacement will go up a notch or two.

Since the rumors of possible started to come out, there hasn’t been many names linked to Juventus. But now, as we stand on the brink of Juve announcing Alves’ departure, Real Madrid right back Danilo — yes, one Brazilian for the other! — has become the club’s No. 1 choice to replace Alves this summer. As part of a report by Sky Sport Italia late Tuesday, Juventus have supposedly put forth a package of around €15 million plus bonuses for the 26-year-old Danilo, who fell behind Dani Carvajal in the pecking order for the two-time defending Champions League winners.

However...

At the moment, the transfer fee would be cost 19-20 million euros and this could be the amount to convince Real Madrid to let the player go. Conte's Chelsea has interest in the player, as they have been following him since last January.

(Source: Gianluca Di Marzio)

Two quick observations on the reported info above:

1. Of course Chelsea. Because it’s not like we’re hearing enough about Juventus and Chelsea transfer-related things these days, right?
2. Based on the fact that Real Madrid paid €31.5 million for Danilo not so long ago, it makes sense that the price they’re reportedly asking for wouldn’t be a total loss. Gotta make up some of that money they forked over to Porto two years ago, right?

Now, it’s not like Danilo is the picture-perfect replacement or somebody who could be viewed as a long-term solution at right back for Juventus. Let’s not forget that he’s coming off a very meh-tastic season at Real Madrid this past year, with his final La Liga totals looking a lot like what Dani Alves pretty much did in the month of May.

That says something about how good Alves was in the second half of the season, but also how Danilo pretty much made himself expendable because of how he played.

But Juventus need to bring in a right back that can start more often than not. To rely on an aging Stephan Lichtsteiner — who turns 34 years old in mid-January — would be a complete mistake by the Juventus management.

Maybe Danilo is that solution. Maybe it’s Matteo Darmian or Mattia De Sciglio. I don’t know. The only thing I do know is that Juventus almost certainly going to be signing a right back to team with Lichtsteiner at some point this summer. That sounds a lot like last summer, but without the whole gobs of Champions League experience that comes along with it.