Juventus have to think about how they want to plan their goalkeeping situation in the long term, because even though they have two of the best keepers in Serie A, both men will be out of contracts before the 2025/26 season.
Wojciech Szczesny has been one of the best goalkeepers in Italian football over the past several years since leaving Arsenal for Roma, where he saved 76.6 percent of the shots he faced in his final season before joining top dogs Juventus and winning three straight Scduetti.
Although the Polish international is still excellent and has saved 76 percent of the shots he’s faced this season, his backup, Mattia Perin, is arguably just as good.
Both Perin and Szczesny will be free agents in the summer 2025 transfer window, and if Juventus want to cash in on one of these two top goalkeepers, they would have to sell one of them in 2024.
That’s why Juventus are interested in Monza gem Michele Di Gregorio, who has the second-highest save percentage in Serie A this season after Inter Milan star Yann Sommer – firmly established as one of the best goalkeepers in world football.
According to journalist Nicolo Schira on YouTube, via JuveFC on Twitter, Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giunotli thinks so highly of Michele Di Gregorio that he compares him to legendary Italian keeper Angelo Peruzzi:
“Di Gregorio reminds Giuntoli of Angelo Peruzzi so Juventus’ idea for Di Gregorio is for him to come in and replace Mattia Perin for one season as back up to Szczesny before taking the number one jersey. Szczesny has one year left on his contract and there is no agreement on his renewal. Next year his wage will jump to €7.5M, but Juventus are fine with this as they see the 24/25 as the keepers last season with Juventus. Perin wants to leave Juventus in order to a number one at another club and has some offers already on the table.”
Juventus would not pay around 20 million euros to Monza for Di Gregorio in order to have him sit on the bench for more than one season, especially when he is one of the top-performing goalkeepers in Europe right now.
The 26-year-old could very well end up being a titan of Serie A for Juventus for the next several years, so the Bianconeri may be trying to strike while the time is right.
Being proactive is something Juve need to do. For too long, the have sat there and let market opportunities go by. There is risk in pouncing on Di Gregorio now and phasing out both Szczesny and Perrin, but if done properly, Juve could have the strongest transition from Szczesny possible.
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