Juventus are experts at bringing in top quality players on free-transfers. From Pirlo to Llorente, Pogba to Khedira to quote just a few examples. Now there is another opportunity to do business with Chelsea for their Serbian full-back Branislav Ivanovic, whose contract is expiring at Stamford Bridge in the summer and a player who is also of interest to Milan, Crystal Palace and West Ham United.
 

The bianconeri however, are unlikely to take up the Premier League side’s offer of a free-transfer on a player who can play on both left and right flanks. The Serie A Champions consider him to be too old (he will be 33-years-old in the summer) and are now searching for different profiles to fit the role. The current squad is already overflowing with over 30 players; Dani Alves, Barzagli and Chiellini and the Old Lady wants to concentrate more on younger players and wants to assess the possibility of keeping hold of Stephan Lichtsteiner; another over 30 whose current deal expires in June. Juve are also aware of the pitfalls involved in this process, yes, Patrice Evra was a first-class addition to the squad but they have witnessed the likes of Nemanja Vidic and Ashley Cole arrive at Inter and Roma respectively and then disappear without a trace.   

Ivanovic has seen just three minutes of first-team action during Chelsea’s five match winning run and there seems to no longer be a place in Conte’s team for the Serbian international. The former Juve tactician would gladly offload the player to his former employer; the response unfortunately, will be thanks, but no thanks.


By Guglielmo Cannavale. Translation by Steve Mitchell