Juventus head coach Massimiliano Allegri wants to revamp his midfield options in the summer following his side’s underwhelming season.
The record-time Italian champions experienced their first trophyless campaign in more than a decade, and Allegri has pinned much of the blame on his underperforming midfield.
Federico Bernaredschi is already on his way out as Roma boss Jose Mourinho sees him as an immediate upgrade on his current options on the left.
Angel Di Maria was one of the club’s main targets to replace Bernaredschi after calling time on his illustrious career at Paris Saint-Germain.
But the recent report from The Sun has put Juve’s hopes of landing the Argentine wizard firmly to bed, as Di Maria himself played down speculations about him having an agreement with the Bianconeri.
Ex-Barcelona flop Arthur Melo and former PSG starlet Adrien Rabiot could also pay the price for Juventus’ abysmal season and join the outgoing contingent.
While Arthur has failed to generate interest in his services following another lacklustre season, Rabiot caught the eye of Chelsea and Newcastle United last winter.
While working on freeing up space for the new faces, Allegri has identified a couple of potential reinforcements ahead of the summer.
Paul Pogba, who is on the cusp of leaving Manchester United after six years, remains Juve’s number one target.
The Frenchman’s contract at Old Trafford is up in the summer, and Juventus have already established contacts with his representatives over a potential reunion in Turin.
Pogba spent the best years of his playing career at the Allianz Stadium under Allegri and could be keen to rekindle those memories at the expense of Paris Saint-Germain’s interest.
But the 2018 World Cup winner is not the only name closely tracked by the Italian manager.
According to TUTTOmercatoWEB, Allegri sees Chelsea’s midfield metronome Jorginho as a perfect addition to his squad.
The Italy international endured a topsy-turvy season under Thomas Tuchel, often being forced to alternate with N’Golo Kante in the starting XI.
Although Gli Azzurri failed to qualify for the upcoming World Cup finals, the 30-year-old is reluctant to play second fiddle to anyone and could force his way out in search of regular first-team action at Juventus.
Jorginho’s playmaking skills and composure on the ball have often been off the charts at Stamford Bridge, but a lack of speed has cost him a regular starting berth at Chelsea.
Juventus are ready to indulge their manager and complete the midfielder’s return to Serie A, where he rose to prominence at Napoli between 2014 and 2018.
Another name on Allegri’s wishlist is Lucas Torreira of Arsenal, who also boasts extensive experience of playing in Serie A.
The 26-year-old enjoyed a decent season-long loan at Fiorentina, growing into one of the most consistent performers in Italy’s top division.
Torreira will sever ties with the Gunners and is already negotiating a permanent stay at Artemio Franchi.
So the Uruguayan’s potential move to Juventus looks unfeasible, especially considering Allegri prefers Jorginho.
Elsewhere, despite recent rumours linking wantaway PSG ace Leandro Paredes with a move to Turin, the Argentine remains Juve’s backup option for the two abovementioned targets.
About Author
