Juventus seem to be on the verge of signing Denis Zakaria from Borussia Monchengladbach, a Swiss international described as ‘a mix between Zinedine Zidane and Michel Platini.’
The 25-year-old midfielder refused to sign a contract extension with the Bundesliga side and is therefore available for just €7m including bonuses.
He had also been linked with Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund as a free agent over the summer, but Juve dived in first to give Gladbach a transfer fee.
Zakaria stands at 1.91 metres (approximately 6ft 2in) and is physically strong, something Max Allegri has certainly been calling out for in his midfield.
Above all, the coach complained there weren’t enough goals coming from the middle of the park, but Zakaria has found the net twice with one assist in 16 Bundesliga appearances this season.
Swiss international goalkeeper Yann Sommer hailed Zakaria as “combining many characteristics of both Zidane and Platini.”
Germany and Inter legend Lothar Matthaus compared the player to Toni Kroos, while other parallels have been made to former Juventus midfielders Patrick Vieira and Paul Pogba.
He can also be used as a centre-back when needed, can play in a two or three-man midfield unit and has three goals in 40 senior caps for Switzerland.
Zakaria was born in Switzerland to a Congolese father and Sudanese mother, so could’ve represented any of the three nations.