La Gazzetta dello Sport newspaper reports Juventus are interested in four Chelsea players, including Jorginho, but new sanctions imposed on Roman Abramovich mean the Bianconeri may shift their focus to different targets.
The English Government has frozen Abramovich’s assets in the UK, including Chelsea, given his strong connections with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Premier League giants have been barred from receiving any funds. They can’t even sell one shirt until the sanctions are valid, let alone players.
“We will fulfil our men’s and women’s team fixtures today against Norwich and West Ham, respectively, and intend to engage in discussions with the UK Government regarding the scope of the licence,” Chelsea said in an official statement.
“This will include seeking permission for the licence to be amended in order to allow the Club to operate as normal as possible. We will also be seeking guidance from the UK Government on the impact of these measures on the Chelsea Foundation and its important work in our communities.”
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the Bianconeri have set their sights on four Blues’ players: Jorginho, Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic and Antonio Rudiger. The Italy international is a top transfer target for the Bianconeri, while Ziyech and Pulisic are alternatives to Nicolò Zaniolo.
However, none of them will be allowed to leave Stamford Bridge while sanctions are still valid, so Juventus may be forced to look elsewhere. As it stands, sanctions are expected to end May 31, but there’s no guarantee that the Government won’t extend them for a longer time.
The scenario regarding Antonio Rudiger is different as the Germany international sees his contract expire at the end of the season. He will leave the Blues on June 30 and Juventus are among the clubs interested in securing his services on a free transfer.