Juventus getting closer to acquiring Arthur from Barcelona
Juventus want to acquire Arthur Melo from Barcelona in a swap deal.
Juventus have made it clear that Arthur Melo is the player they want the most from FC Barcelona during negotiations between the two powerful European clubs heading into the summer 2020 transfer window.
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Miralem Pjanic to Barcelona is close to being agreed to between player and team, and Juve are also willing to send misplaced fullback Mattia De Sciglio to the Calatan club. However, the Bianconeri are understandably uninterested in the players Barca have been trying to send them, including Ivan Rakitic and former Bianconeri star Arturo Vidal.
Juve want to get younger in midfield, which is why they covet Arthur. Swapping Pjanic directly for Arthur would be unfair, which is why the Bianconeri are willing to add another player.
According to a report from La Gazzetta dello Sport, via JuveFC.com, Barcelona manager Quique Setien told Arthur that there won’t be much space for him in the squad to obtain playing time when football resumes.
Arthur has made it known he wants to stay with La Blaugrana, but in light of Setien’s reported comments, he may be reconsidering his stance and more open to joining Juventus. In Turin, Arthur would be an undisputed starter, Pjanic’s direct replacement after the swap, and a key part of the team alongside another rising young midfielder in Rodrigo Bentancur.
Looking at Barcelona’s squad, Arthur is the only realistic target that interests the Bianconeri. Frenkie de Jong would be impossible to purchase, Vidal and Rakitic simply aren’t good enough, and Juve don’t need a right back like Nelson Semedo.
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It will be interesting to see what Arthur’s salary demands are, since GdS reports that part of the progress in discussions with Arthur has stemmed from salary negotiations. Perhaps he could get a significant enough pay raise from Juve, even in the uncertain market ahead.