Juventus Transfer News and Rumours Tracker: Week of September 22
Juventus enjoyed a good week following the end of the international break, recording wins against Udinese and Malmo before heading to the San Siro on Saturday evening. There, a morale-boosting victory over a resurgent Milan provided hope that Massimiliano Allegri has the Bianconeri headed in the right direction.
Even as the team notches up positive results, talk of improving the squad available to their new coach continues apace, and the January transfer window is likely to see one or two new faces arrive in Turin.
Over the following pages is all the latest Juventus-related transfer news and gossip, updated on a daily basis to ensure you are fully informed of likely targets.
*UPDATED SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 27*
Difficult for Udinese to Keep Silvan Widmer
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Udinese have admitted they will struggle to keep hold of Silvan Widmer, with Milan and Juventus interested in the Swiss defender. Speaking about the 21-year-old full-back to the Calciomercato website, the club's sporting director Cristiano Giaretta said (h/t Football Italia):
"Widmer is doing really well and it’s not something that surprises me. We are happy with players like him, that were acquired last season and that now are playing even better.
Ours is a two year project, it’s clear that on paper there’s the willingness to keep Widmer but the market has unpredictable variables and if Widmer has a stellar season it will be difficult to hold him back.
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Fabio Paratici Scouts Davide Zappacosta
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Davide Zappacosta has long-been linked to Juventus, and the latest news is that the club sent their director of sport to scout the Atalanta defender. On Tuesday, local newspaper Il Corriere di Bergamo (h/t Forza Italian Football) reported that Fabio Paratici was in attendance to watch the player against Fiorentina on Sunday.
Ignazio Abate to Replace Stephan Lichtsteiner?
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As Stephan Lichtsteiner’s contract negotiations drag on, reports in Italy believe Juventus see Ignazio Abate as a possible replacement. Sport Mediaset (h/t Football Italia) state that the Bianconeri have identified the Milan right-back as a target, particularly as his current deal expires this summer.
LA Galaxy to Make Bid for Andrea Pirlo
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MLS side LA Galaxy have admitted they are interested in bringing Andrea Pirlo to the club, looking at the Italian midfielder as a replacement for Landon Donovan. The US star is set to retire, and a report states that they see the Juve man as the ideal candidate as their next designated player.
Despite having recently signed a contract that will not expire until 2016, ESPN believe the Galaxy want Pirlo to move in January in order to prepare for next season. "We have an interest in a player of his calibre,” coach Frank Farina is believed to have said in an email according to the same source.
This summer, the player himself expressed an interest in moving to MLS when his current deal with the Bianconeri expires. Speaking to Today online in Singapore, the 35-year-old said (h/t Football Italia):
"Why should I move? Serie A is a top-level league and life in Italy is comfortable. Two more years with Juventus, then maybe I will move to the MLS in the United States.
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Arsenal and Roma Lead Chase for Adrien Rabiot
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Speculation surrounding Adrien Rabiot continues apace, with the latest reports in Italy linking both Roma and Arsenal with a move for the midfielder. The 19-year-old will be out of contract next summer when his current deal with Paris Saint-Germain expires, with Gianluca Di Marzio listing the two clubs as leading candidates to sign him.
Writing on his own website, the respected journalist believes Juventus hold out hope of adding his name to the list of quality free agents they have already recently captured, including Rabiot’s former team-mate Kingsley Coman.
Antonio Candreva Never Wanted Lazio Exit
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Antonio Candreva yesterday announced he had agreed a new contract with Lazio, per Football Italia, ending speculation about his future. The 27-year-old midfielder commented on rumours he was set to return to former club Juventus, saying (h/t GianlucaDiMarzio.com):
"I signed the new contract. I never thought about leaving Lazio. I thank the president Lotito for fulfilling what he promised. Many things were written, even that I had bought a house in Turin… But I always said that I wanted to stay.
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Beppe Marotta Discusses Transfer Strategy
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Beppe Marotta gave an interview to Radio 1 on Monday morning, discussing the club’s strategy for the coming months. “There could be some opportunities that we could seize or maybe some operations that we’ll need to do,” the director general said of the January transfer window, per GianlucaDiMarzio.com.
He also reflected on a number of players co-owned by the Bianconeri who did not move to Turin this past summer, going on to say:
"We have many strikers and there is no room. We still have to recover Morata, who got hurt in the first practice. There is a lot of competition with Tevez, Llorente, Coman and Giovinco. It will be hard for anybody to find room.
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Alessandro Del Piero Arrives in India
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Former Juventus captain Alessandro Del Piero arrived in India this past weekend, the striker ready to begin life with new club based in Dehli.
“I hope this league can be good for the national team,” he told reporters shortly after landing, per The Times of Malta. “It’s a completely new challenge for sure. If you have an opportunity to take it, it’s good to take it.”
Juventus the Only Club for Patrice Evra
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Patrice Evra spoke to JuventusTV this past weekend, telling them how highly he regards the club following his decision to move to Turin. The French defender compared them to his former side in his interview, published on the official Juventus website, revealing that:
"This is the only club I would have left Manchester United for. Juve's history and winning mentality made it the perfect choice for me. It's similar to Manchester in the sense that no effort is spared in giving you the best possible conditions in which to work.
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