OUTLINED: Juve's midfield targets... and how likely they are of getting them!
Following yesterday's signing of Mario Lemina, it is time to check out what else is boiling in Giuseppe Marotta and Fabio Paratici's cauldron.
Speaking of Lemina, the situation with the Franco-Gabonese player had reached a head: with Marseille unwilling to flinch on offering another loan or lowering the midfielder's €9.5 million price tag, the Bianconeri eventually decided to accept... but to spread the payment out in four installments.
Who are Juventus' main targets now? Whoever they are, they have to be able to slot into the current midfield, alongside Paul Pogba, Sami Khedira and Claudio Marchisio, whose recent ligament tear may keep him out until October.
The name André Gomes (60% chance of signing him) has been doing the rounds of late, and for good reason: the 23-year-old Valencia midfielder is considered to be the Bianconeri's Number 1 target. Among the others, Isco is considered to be a bit of a forbidden fruit (5%), with Pastore and Oscar little better (10%). Kanté (5%), Bazoer (5%) and Saponara (5%) are also seen as tough cookies. Though Juventus have spoken at length to Empoli about the playmaker, they'll need to negotiate for him this summer.
If there's one problem with Lemina, it's his lack of durability: having played only 700 minutes in the league this season, he may not be as reliable as Fernando (50%), of whom Juventus have recently been speaking to Sampdoria about. Yaya Touré (20%) is also there, though he would have to assume a more limited role, as he is clearly not the player he was two years ago.
Javier Mascherano (5%), Lucas Biglia (10%), and Josuha Guilavogui (5%), Amadou Diawara (5%) and Yoeri Tielemans (5%) are also being considered, though they are either considered too old (Mascherano, Biglia) or too expensive/ wanted by many other big clubs.
Either way, expect Juventus to pursue many leads this summer. Their recent record leads us to believe that they've become quite good at this transfer malarkey.
@NicolaBalice, translated by @EdoDalmonte
