Off-pitch issues involving Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli have pushed Juventus to start considering replacements in the form of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Federico Bernardeschi.
The French midfielder is now at risk of receiving a two-to-four-year ban after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone following a win over Udinese where he was an unused substitute. His counter-analysis also returned positive and he’s now building his defence ahead of his trial.
Today, news broke that Fagioli had allegedly been illegally placing bets on football matches, something he later admitted to the investigators, although he claimed that none were on matches involving his clubs.
As reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are now at risk of losing both players to suspensions, pushing them to start considering possible reinforcements in the January transfer window.
Their first target is Tottenham’s Hojbjerg, who has struggled for consistent minutes under Ange Postecoglou this season. His contract expires in June 2025 and talks have already been opened, but he could cost up to €30m.
The club also want to bring in a more advanced attacking midfielder should Fagioli be suspended, and their top target is Sassuolo’s Domenico Berardi, but he may be impossible to sign. The alternative, then, is Toronto FC’s Federico Bernardeschi.
Toronto’s Federico Chiesa … lol
Um, I don’t play for Toronto FC.