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Africa Cup of Nations: the transfer market moves of Juve, Roma, Lazio & Napoli
A revolution is about to take place at the heart of Juventus this January. Coach Massimo Allegri is expecting two new midfield arrivals in the new year and according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Axel Witsel will be one of those arrivals. The 27-year-old Belgian international, who almost arrived in Turin in the summer, will head over from Zenit St Petersburg for a fee of around €6-8 million of failing that, arrive on a free-transfer in the summer with a salary of €4.5 million net per season for five years.
TOLISSO:
Uruguayan Rodrigo Bentancur looks set to join the bianconeri in June so with Asamoah and Lemina away on Africa Cup of Nations duty in January, another midfielder will be brought in .Matuidi now looks to be staying at PSG, Matic is tied to Chelsea so the names left in the notebook are Luis Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Hector Herrera (Porto), Thiago Maia (Santos) and Corent Tolisso (Lyon). The latter could arrive for €16 million and although he would be ineligible for the Champions League, his ability to play right back or right midfield makes him an attractive prospect.
LICHTSTEINER:
So we come to the Swiss full-back who looks set to leave Turin on a free-transfer next summer. Chelsea and Barcelona are possible destinations if the player fails to find an agreement with the Old Lady.
DEFENCE:
Benatia will also leave Turin in January on African Cup of Nations duty and Juventus are also eyeing up Victor Lindelof of Benfica. Meanwhile both Dybala and Bonucci will extend their respective stays with the champions and an announcement will be made later this month.
NAPOLI:
Napoli are looking for an alternative to Koulibaly and await the return of Albiol. The Senegalese defender is under contract until 2021 but the vesuviani will have to finish in a top-three position to avoid the risk of losing him next summer.
LAZIO:
Keita Balde will be heading to Africa in January and Corriere dello Sport claims that Cafù of Ludogorets is a name that pleases the biancocelesti. The Brazilian striker has a Bulgarian passport and the club are believed to be willing to listen to offers of around €12 million. Premier League champions Leicester City have also been linked with a move. Alternatives for the capital club are Ntep (Rennes), Cerci (Atletico Madrid) and Haller of Utrecht. There is also interest closer to home with Paloschi of Atalanta another name in the frame.
ROMA:
Mo Salah will join his Egyptian colleagues in January and of course there is the injury to Florenzi. Corriere dello Sport states that the Dutch trio of Depay (Manchester United) El Ghazi (Ajax), Lens (Sunderland owned but currently on-loan to Fenerbahce) are all being monitored as are Boufal (Southampton) and Papu Gomez. La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the 28-year-old Atalanta man would cost €15 million but that the giallorossi would like to take him on an initial loan-deal and send Iturbe in the opposite direction.
Steve Mitchell @barafundler
Steve Mitchell @barafundler