Arsenal and Chelsea have both been left sweating over the outcome of Juventus’ trial for different reasons, with the result having fundamentally important ramifications for the pair.
Earlier in the season, Juventus had been given a 15 point penalty as a result of alleged financial irregularities, but this was overhauled in April, leaving the Old Lady well placed to secure Champions League football next season.
Currently second to Napoli in Serie A, they sit 10 points clear of 7th placed Atalanta, who are currently occupying a European Conference League spot.
However, there was always set to be a second trial and Federal Prosecutor Giuseppe Chiné has now suggested that they be docked 11 points, rather than the initial 15, according to reports coming out of Italy.
This would leave them outside the Champions League spots, with the intention to punish them by denying them European football next season.
In turn, it would have major knock on effects for both Arsenal and Chelsea.
However, were Juventus to drop out, then they would likely move up to pot 2 provided Ajax miss out on Champions League football, by virtue of having a better European coefficient than those around them, and in turn handing them an easier draw.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have been strongly linked with a move for striker Dusan Vlahovic, who is reportedly the subject of a £70m bid from the Blues.
Without European football themselves, and with the financial hit that losing out on Europe would have on Juventus, cashing in on Vlahovic would become much more viable, while the Serbian striker wouldn’t be sacrificing playing on a European stage to complete the Stamford Bridge switch.
