Juventus are reportedly hoping to strike a deal with Udinese for highly-rated midfielder Lazar Samardzic as Massimiliano Allegri looks to combat certain issues in his midfield department.
The 21-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to Inter this summer, but despite arriving in the city of Milan for a medical, the move collapsed as an agreement on personal terms could not be reached.
Now, however, Juventus are keen on bringing Samardzic to Turin to provide the Biancocelesti with a boost in the middle of the park.
Juve will almost certainly not be able to rely on current midfielders Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli for the remainder of the season for varying reasons.
The Frenchman failed a routine drug test after Juventus’ 3-0 win over Samardzic’s side Udinese in August, while Fagioli is expected to be handed a lengthy ban for his involvement in alleged illegal gambling activity.
According to reports from Tuttosport on Tuesday, Juventus would be prepared to offer Udinese a loan deal with an option to buy which could become obligatory under certain circumstances.
Tuttosport detail that the loan fee would likely come at a cost of €4m-€5m, while the sum to make the move permanent would be in the region of €15m-€18m.
Though born in Germany and having represented their youth international sides up to U21 level, Samardzic was handed his first senior international cap by Serbia earlier this year and his compatriot Dusan Vlahovic is also said to be advising that Juventus would be a good move.