Juventus and Barcelona are trying to find a solution with Atletico Madrid for Alvaro Morata, but Football Italia are told Max Allegri rejected a Memphis Depay swap as he wants a classic centre-forward.
The January transfer window was lit up by the remarkable news that Morata is wanted by new Barcelona coach Xavi, with the feeling very much mutual.
Juve signed the striker on a two-year loan from Atletico Madrid for €20m with option to buy for a further €35m in June 2022.
However, the Bianconeri do not seem intent on making the move permanent and Morata is already looking elsewhere.
Catalunya Radio claim the two clubs are already in agreement, it’s now about organising the format of this transfer with his parent club Atletico Madrid.
How Morata can join Barcelona in January thanks to Depay and Griezmann
Sources tell Football-Italia.net that Barca offered Depay in an exchange deal, but Juventus coach Allegri rejected the option.
He is looking for a classic centre-forward and is unconvinced by Depay’s recent form and injury record too.
Another alternative is Arsenal outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but he is not ideal either because his salary is considered far too high and he’ll be involved in the Africa Cup of Nations next month.
Morata has scored seven goals in 23 competitive games for Juventus this season, but the Bianconeri overall are one of the lowest-scoring sides in Serie A.
They have a goal difference of only +10 and found the net 27 times, the same as Bologna and Sampdoria.
Only Udinese, Torino, Venezia, Spezia, Genoa, Cagliari and Salernitana have scored fewer than Juventus this season.
I would stick it out with Morata until the end of the season and get Vlahovic. In January the only viable striker available is Cavani, but he won’t come to Juve because of his Napoli past.