Barcelona Transfer News: Juventus Reportedly Agree on Dani Alves Contract

Barcelona star Dani Alves has reportedly agreed to a three-year deal with Juventus, and he's set to join the Bianconeri on a free transfer this summer.

That's according to Spanish outlet Cadena Ser (h/t Marca), which reported on Wednesday that Barcelona wouldn't make any money on the deal but would save roughly €8 million in wages, which they could use to invest in either new arrivals or improved contracts for other star players.

Fabrizio Romano of Sky Sport reported the proposed deal is through 2018 with an option to extend an additional year.

Alves has been with the Catalans since 2008 and ranks among the team's most decorated players, having won six Primera Division titles and three UEFA Champions League trophies.

PAU BARRENA/Getty Images

The 33-year-old proved he's still among the best full-backs in the world during the 2015-16 campaign, registering three assists in the Champions League, per WhoScored.com. While he has always relied heavily on his athleticism, his positional play has improved in the last few years, and he easily maintained his grip on the starting position with Barcelona.

ESPN FC's Janusz Michallik likes the move from both Alves' and Juventus' perspectives:

Mundo Deportivo (h/t Football Italia) reported Barcelona have denied the move, but a host of other Spanish outlets have detailed the transfer. Among those is Sport, which explained how Alves could leave on a free transfer despite still being under contract:

"

When he renewed last year, Alves sealed a deal with the Catalan club which would allow him to abandon them without the need for any type of negotiations or economic compensation. It's a clause which freed him up to manage a large list of offers. In the end, he’s gone for the proposal put forward by Juve.

The last contract renewal signed by the Brazilian was a nightmare and a long soap opera. Alves agreed to sign an extension, but he managed to include a clause which he could use to leave the club and free him from the second year of a two-year deal.

"

Per Sport, Sandro Ramirez used a similar clause. The report also suggested the money the club would save could go toward securing new deals for Luis Suarez, Neymar and Lionel Messi. Without money coming in through new sponsors, the club can't improve its top stars' contracts, per Yahoo Sports' Guillem Balague. Santi Gimenez of AS detailed in October 2015 that UEFA's financial fair play rules, a club statute and the Professional Football League's wage cap have combined to hamstring the Blaugrana.

La Liga blogger Rafael Hernandez wasn't surprised when he heard the news of Alves' possible departure:

Alves is a superb fit in Juventus' 3-5-2 formation, which relies heavily on attacking wing-backs with excellent range. Stephan Lichtsteiner is the team's top option on the right wing, and he and Alves would make for a fantastic duo.

Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri wants his team to have depth above everything, and he frequently rotates his players. On the left wing, Alex Sandro and Patrice Evra easily coexisted during the 2015-16 campaign, so there's no reason to believe Alves and Lichtsteiner wouldn't do the same.

The departure of the Brazil international would be a major blow for Barcelona, who don't have a quality backup at the position. Alves was one of the unsung heroes of the 2015-16 season and has developed fantastic chemistry with Messi. Here's a look at some of the goals he has assisted for the Argentinian:

The Catalans would likely look for his replacement on the transfer market unless Aleix Vidal can convince manager Luis Enrique he's the right man for the job. Douglas has barely made an impact for the club since joining from Sao Paulo in August 2014, and there are no prospects in the academy ready to take the next step.

Expect the rumours surrounding Arsenal full-back and former Barcelona youth-team player Hector Bellerin to intensify. The Spaniard has pledged his allegiance to the Gunners on multiple occasions, per Goal (h/t Sport), but with the starting position seemingly his for the taking, he might find it hard to turn down a move if his boyhood club were to come calling.

Follow @ReverschPass