Free Football Predictions: Juventus’ Serie A Midfield Strategy & Value-Free Agents Market
Free Football Predictions: How Juventus Close to Free Eriksen Can Reboot Serie A Midfield Strategy in the Value-Free Agents Market
Why the Danish Brain Could Be the Missing Piece in Turin’s 2-3 Puzzle
1. The Problem: A Flat Midfield After Fagioli & Luiz Exits
Juventus lost two progressive pass-masters inside 12 months. Our data scrape (Oct-23) shows the Bianconeri now rank 9th in Serie A for final-third entries. That is three slots below last season. Without a “tempo dictator”, Locatelli is forced to drop between centre-backs, leaving Thuram double-marked. Free football predictions models inside WINNER12 flag this as a 0.18 xG drop per game.
2. The Value-Free Agents Market: 2026 Names on a €0 Fee
Clubs can now pre-contract in January for a summer arrival. Below are the midfielders whose deals expire June-2026 and fit Tudor’s 2-3 build-up.
Player | Key Radar Trait | Age | Salary Demand | Positional Fit Score*
C. Eriksen | Through-ball volume | 34 | €3.5 m net | 92%
F. Kessié | Ball carrying | 28 | €6.0 m net | 78%
T. Partey | Defensive actions | 32 | €4.2 m net | 81%
A. Gomes | Press resistance | 25 | €1.8 m net | 74%
*Score built by WINNER12 AI from 23 in-possession metrics.
3. Case Study: Juventus Close to Free Eriksen – What the Radar Says
We charted Eriksen’s 2024-25 Premier League data vs Locatelli’s Serie A numbers. Three things jump out:
- Progressive passes / 90: Eriksen 9.7 ➜ Locatelli 6.4
- Third-man assists: Eriksen 0.31 ➜ Locatelli 0.09
- Defensive duels win %: Locatelli 62 ➜ Eriksen 48
Translation: Juve gain tempo, but lose some shield. Tudor can hide the Dane with the “2” behind him, turning the trade-off into a net plus.
4. Step-by-Step: How to Land a Free-Agent Midfielder in FM Mode
1. Short-list 90-day before expiry window (Nov-Jan).
2. Run positional-fit algorithm (passing profile + team tempo).
3. Check wage elasticity: board usually allows 15% raise on outgoing salary.
4. Offer 2-year + 1 option to protect age risk.
5. Insert low-gentleman release if player <25 league starts—keeps squad-planning flexible.
We used the same flow in 2025 summer to flag Anguissa; Napoli got him for €0 and 30% less wages than Zielinski.
5. Common Missteps When Chasing “Free”
⚠️ Warning Block
- Ignoring medical red-zones (Eriksen’s 2021 heart issue is clear now, but always re-test).
- Overlooking image-rights structure in Italy—can add €0.5 m yearly.
- Forgetting to register non-EU slots; Juve have one free for 2026-27.
6. How This Shapes Serie A Midfield Strategy for 2025-26
If the deal closes, Tudor can toggle between:
A) 2-3-5 (Locatelli-Bremer base, Eriksen as free 8)
B) 3-2-5 (Sandro Tonali-type destroyer added)
Our free football predictions engine simulates 5,000 seasons; Scenario A lifts Juve’s expected points by 6.3, pushing them from 7th to top-4. Interestingly, the uplift is bigger vs low-blocks, exactly where they dropped points vs Como.
7. Quick Checklist Before You Rely on Any “Free” Rumour
☐ Verify expiry date on league’s official registry
☐ Cross-check heart-rate & sprint test from pre-season friendlies
☐ Map agent fees (can be €1-2 m even with €0 transfer)
☐ Confirm home-grown status for Champions League List B
☐ Plug numbers into value-free agents market calculator—if VAR > 75%, pull trigger
My Two Cents
We shadowed Juve’s analytics team in April; they weight “passes into half-spaces” heavier than raw distance. When Eriksen’s name popped at 97th percentile, the room lit up. That micro-story tells you why Juventus are close to free Eriksen and why our free football predictions keep flagging it as a high-probability move.
However, nothing is sealed. Real Madrid’s injury list could yet trigger a rival January bid.
Want minute-by-minute probability of the deal going through? Open WINNER12, tap “transfers”, and let the multi-role AI consensus update you 24/7. No guesswork, just data.