Just two seasons ago, Juventus fans clamoured for the signing of Robin van Persie. Yet the club could only muster a £10 million bid, and he was sold to Manchester United for £24 million instead.
Later that summer on deadline day, Juventus desperately signed an out of shape Nicklas Bendtner on loan from Arsenal, and added Nicolas Anelka on a free during the next transfer window.
24 months on, the Serie A champions are still struggling to compete in the transfer market, outgunned for Alexis Sanchez and Juan Iturbe.
Selling Arturo Vidal to Manchester United would be a financial game-changer, but just how desperate is it for the Turin side, who have this summer spent roughly £25 million on new players.
Sky Italia's Alexander Surgoni believes they have reached their limit by bringing in Alvaro Morata, Patrice Evra among others.
He says they are now almost all spent out, and have to look at loan moves if they are to strengthen, unless they sell.
"If they sell Vidal, Juventus can sign a defender, a midfielder and a striker. The Juventus has already identified a midfielder in January, Guarin, a player that Inter could yield. Then a defender, and can invest 12-15 million on a striker for a certain profile. If they do not sell Vidal, the defender and the attacker Juventus's aim will be to borrow."
In other words, if they sell Vidal, Juventus can go onto sign a whole new spine to their team, including a big name striker.
If they stick with the Chilean international, they will have to scratch around for loan moves and hope Alvaro Morata comes good, if they are to improve on their group stage elimination in last year's Champions League competition.
In defence, Manchester City's Matija Nastasic has been linked as a top option, while up front even the spectacular name of Zlatan Ibrahmovic has circled in the Italian press.
That may be unlikely, but given the finances Juventus would have available, they would be able to ideally attract a striker closer to that calibre than a Nicklas Bendtner, as they may otherwise have to take a gamble on.