Santos President Jose Carlos Peres confirmed Juve’s interest in young forward Kaio Jorge.

Reports have circulated in recent months, suggesting that the Bianconeri were trying to steal a march on their opponents by signing Jorge before his price increases.

Speaking to CM.com, Peres has now confirmed Juve’s interest in the player.

“Football may have stopped for the Coronavirus pandemic, but the transfer market is carrying on as normal,” Peres told Calciomercato.com.

“It’s not a secret that Kaio Jorge is sought-after, but if we don’t receive the offers I feel are suitable by a certain deadline, then we’ll keep him until the end of the season.

“Juventus asked about him, but made no formal offers. I told them his release clause is €75m, but we are open to negotiation. We were discussing closer to €30m, but not just with Juve.

“Another two Italian clubs are very active on him, along with a French side, but seeing as those stories didn’t reach the papers, I won’t name them.

“The clauses are there to protect ourselves from the economic aggression of the big European clubs. It forces those clubs to speak with us directly.”