Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is a Juventus target this summer but the Bianconeri still need to negotiate with Lazio.
The Bianconeri have been strongly linked with a move for the Serbian midfielder following reports from the usually reliable Sky Sport Italia that an agreement in principle is in place with the player.
La Stampa now report that Lazio President Claudio Lotito values Milinkovic-Savic at €90m and that the midfielder was close to joining Juventus last summer, but for Lotito’s ‘no’ and a demand for €120m.
Juventus are now preparing to use their provisional agreement with the player to force Lazio’s hand in negotiations which are reportedly already underway.
As Juve are looking to rebuild their midfield, La Stampa suggest that significant sales may be required to help fund transfers with the most likely candidate for a move being Miralem Pjanic who is closely linked to Paris Saint-Germain.
Sami Khedira is also expected to move on this summer, despite signing a contract extension until 2021 while Blaise Matuidi may only renew for a season or two more.
Gazzetta Dello Sport report on similar lines, suggesting Milinkovic-Savic was a long-term Juve target and wanted by coach Max Allegri last summer.
Gazzetta suggest that a rough deal between Juve and the player has always been in place, the oly stumbling block being the high demands of Lotito.
An agreement in principle has now been reached and while the ‘official’ word from Juve is that there was no meeting yesterday for Milinkovic-Savic, Gazzetta report that talks did take place yesterday and that an agreement may have been reached with agent Mateja Kezman.
The transfer is not expected to be simple or straightforward, given the Lazio Presidents tendency to play hardball with Juventus.
Another possible candidate for the Bianconeri is Adrian Rabiot, soon to be a free-agent having sat out the remainder of his contract with PSG.
Despite Juve interest, Gazzetta suggest that the €10m a year salary demanded by the players agent/mother is considered too high for now.
Gazzetta also report that in order to make any potential transfers possible, Juve will sacrifice Pjanic in order to raise funds for immediate reinvestment.
