Juventus in pole to land highly-rated Italian midfielder

Italian sports journal Corriere dello Sport writes that Juventus are in pole-position to land highly-rated Italian international midfielder Sandro Tonali. The 21-year-old, who was nurtured in the youth ranks at Brescia, is starting to fulfil his huge potential with the Rondinelle this term, and a summer move to one of Italy’s heavyweight clubs has always looked like the inevitable outcome.

Tonali, who looks set to claim a place in Roberto Mancini’s Italian squad for Euro 2020, is adept playing either as a defensive midfielder or further forward in support of the front men and Corriere dello Sport claims that Juventus want to steal a march on their rivals by getting a deal tied up, possibly during this window.

The owner of Brescia is former Leeds United patron Massimo Cellino who although resigned to losing his star player, is reported to be ready to drive a hard bargain with any potential suitors. Latest murmurings suggest that Juventus want to do the same with Tonali as they have with Atalanta winger Dejan Kulusevski – that is to get the deal done now, but leave the player with his parent club for the rest of the current campaign (Kulusevski, although owned by Atalanta, is currently on a season-long loan at Parma).

For his part, Cellino is understood to be ready to sit down and talk with anyone prepared to pay 35 million euros for his young starlet; Juventus however, seem keen to want to make it a cash plus player agreement as coach Maurizio Sarri searches for new young talent to freshen up his squad.