Arsenal are once again interested in signing Manuel Locatelli, and with Juventus’s off-field problems, they could be in with a shout with Kieran Tierney going the other way.
Arsenal are reportedly still interested in signing Manuel Locatelli with Juventus in a world of trouble (see below).
The latest report claims the Gunners could use Kieran Tierney as a makeweight in any deal.
According to Italian newspaper Calcio Mercato, Arsenal are interested in signing Locatelli and are willing to offer Newcastle-linked Tierney to convince Juventus to sell the midfielder.
Arsenal are reportedly looking to renew their midfield, which would fit with the rumours we have seen so far. Mikel Arteta is said to want more options in that area of the pitch.
Juventus, meanwhile, are looking for a left-back in the transfer market, so the option of Tierney ‘would be interesting’.
However, Juventus have not made a decision on the proposal.
Mikel Arteta and Edu tried to sign Locatelli from Sassuolo last summer but the player seemed like he was only ever going to end up with the Old Lady, despite moving for €30m when Arsenal offered €40m.
Locatelli’s agent, Andrea D’Amico, confirmed that Arsenal had indeed made a €40m offer but the player’s priority was to move to Turin.
What are the problems facing Juventus?
Juventus are currently facing a severe crisis, with a 15-point deduction, the entire board resigning, and ongoing investigations into financial fraud, specifically relating to false accounting and market manipulation.
The investigations were initiated by the Prisma case, which alleged that Juventus had been engaging in “deliberately creative accounting” practices.
Moreover, the investigation led to the FIGC reopening the sporting case against the team, and 11 board members and executives being punished.
Juventus are planning to appeal the FIGC’s ruling, but the club’s outlook remains uncertain.
In September, the club reported losses of €254m, a record for an Italian team, and was further hit by the deduction of points.
The team’s prospects for qualifying for Europe have faded, and its revenue streams are being threatened.
Furthermore, the team has been forced to move toward a younger player recruitment strategy to compensate for the losses.
Juventus will face further investigations regarding the allegations of false accounting and financial fair play.
The events are not expected to lead to a more significant change at the top of the team, as the Agnelli family continues to hold a 64% stake in the team through Exor, and the family has previously stated that it is not willing to sell the club.
Juventus are still facing a criminal investigation in relation to player salary false accounting.
Specifically, the club has allegedly paid players during the pandemic, even though it had said that they would not be receiving wages for four months.
The club reported €90m in wage cuts, but in reality, it should have been around €22.5m.
If proven, the club could face even more significant penalties beyond points and football bans.
The players who are found to be knowingly involved could face 30-day bans in Italian football.
Juventus may also face more scrutiny from UEFA over Financial Fair Play (FFP) violations.
UEFA has launched a new investigation into the club after the Italian Companies and Exchange Commission and the public prosecutor in Turin revealed financial violations.
You can read a more in-depth piece about Juventus’s problems here.