Paul Pogba replacement: Juventus still working on list of midfield targets with transfer deadline day looming
JUVENTUS’ bid to replace Paul Pogba will go right to the wire.
The Frenchman left to re-join Manchester United in a world-record £89million deal — and Max Allegri is still searching for a replacement with just two days left in the summer transfer window.
Juve have started the defence of their title with two narrow wins and will still feel they need an extra body in midfield.
Italian daily, , report there are still as many as five names in the hat to bolster their starting line-up.
Here, SunSport looks at who Juve could bring in before the end of the window on August 31.
Blaise Matuidi — Paris Saint-Germain
Pogba’s France central-midfield partner is high on the list of priorities for Juve.
Matuidi’s notorious agent, Mino Raiola, has a strong relationship with the Italian champions.
Unai Emery has made it clear the 29-year-old’s place in the PSG starting line-up is far from certain with the arrival of Grzegorz Kychowiak from Sevilla.
Matuidi is a powerful unit who would be adept in Serie A.
The Frenchmen is keen to move to Juve and was also United’s back-up option to Pogba.
Axel Witsel — Zenit St Petersburg
The Belgian is Juve’s first-choice replacement for Pogba, but looks set to see out the final year of his contract.
Witsel was also a major target for Ronald Koeman at Everton — and the Toffees even agreed a fee for the player’s signature.
However, the 27-year-old rejected the offer in the hope Juve would come in for him.
There is hope in Turin a deal can be done, but the clock is ticking.
Mousa Sissoko — Newcastle
Another in demand Frenchman after an impressive Euro 2016.
Sissoko has made absolutely no secret of his desperate desire to leave St. James’ Park — publicly calling on big teams to make a bid at every possible opportunity.
Zinedine Zidane had looked at bringing the former Toulouse man to Real Madrid for £30m.
Sissoko remains a back-up option for Allegri. But, with time running out, he may be all they have left.
Steven N’Zonzi — Sevilla
It’s been quite a journey for the uncapped Frenchman.
Hothead N’Zonzi was a good player while at Blackburn and Stoke — but never a target for the Premier League’s elite.
However, his stock has shot up in Seville.
And report N’Zonzi is “more than just an idea” for Juve.
Isco — Real Madrid
The midfielder was the darling of Spanish football when he left Malaga for the Bernabeu in the summer of 2013.
However, incomings and managerial changes have impeded Isco’s development.
Marco Asensio’s emergence in Madrid has put his Spanish team-mate’s place under threat.
And Juve are waiting in the wings to see what develops between now and the end of the window.