Juventus want to pick up Nicolas Tagliafico from Olympique Lyon this winter, according to Corriere dello Sport (via Voetbal Primeur). The Italian giant is urgently looking for defensive reinforcements and considers the former Ajax player as a good and especially cheap option.
Lyon has huge debts and for that reason has recently been told that it will, in principle, be relegated after this season. The only reason to avoid that scenario is to find some sort of financial recovery. The club wants to do that by selling players. Juventus are aware of this situation, and want to take advantage of their financially dire straits.
The club wants to get involved in the upcoming sale and hopes to bring Tagliafico to Turin for a discounted price. The Old Lady could do with a new defender, as both Gleison Bremer and Juan Cabal are currently injured. The club sees Tagliafico, who has an expiring contract in France, as an ideal replacement. The 32-year-old left-back is experienced, has won a World Cup, and doesn’t cost that much, with Transfermarkt currently valuing him at eight million euros.
Corriere dello Sport understands that Juventus’ technical director Cristiano Giuntoli is already working on finalizing the deal. The news about Tagliafico and Juventus comes shortly after L’Équipe reported that the Argentine had set his sights on a move to Boca Juniors.
His future does not seem to lie in the Dutch capital in any case. Tagliafico was an important link under Erik ten Hag for years. Last season there seemed to be talk of a return, but that did not get off the ground. In total, Tagliafico registered 169 all-competition appearances with the Amsterdam club, while winning three Eredivisie titles and two KNVB Cups.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Max Bradfield
