Juventus are poised to refresh their midfield in the January transfer window and they could sacrifice Arthur Melo in order to bring in reinforcements.
Arthur’s transfer to the club, which saw Miralem Pjanic join Barcelona in exchange for the Brazilian, is one of 42 Juventus transfers currently being investigated by prosecutors amid claims of false accounting on the Bianconeri’s behalf.
On the pitch, Arthur has struggled to settle and has rarely featured for Massimiliano Allegri this term. After making 22 Serie A appearances under Andrea Pirlo during his debut season, the metronomic midfielder has made just one start in all competitions in 2021/22 after missing the first two months of the season through injury.
His lack of game time suggests that the manager doesn’t view the Brazilian as an imperative figure in his transitioning side. So far, summer signing Manuel Locatelli has been favoured over Arthur to play the deeper-lying role in Allegri’s midfield.
Arthur Melo could leave Juventus in January
For now, the outlook is bleak for Arthur in Turin and reports have emerged of Juventus potentially letting him go in the January transfer window.
The Bianconeri are keen to reshape their midfield once more in the winter, with Aaron Ramsey and Adrien Rabiot linked with moves away. Tuttosport, meanwhile, reports that Arthur could also leave in order to facilitate the arrival of two new signings.
However, the report writes that it’ll be almost impossible to sell the Brazilian on a permanent basis just 18 months after he was brought to the club in a deal worth €72m. Thus, Juve may let their midfielder leave the club on loan.
Arsenal and Sevilla are understood to have held an interest in the midfielder, but whether they’d be willing to accept a loan deal is another matter.
Juventus still keen on Denis Zakaria
Tuttosport suggests that Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Denis Zakaria is Juventus’ primary target in January. The Swiss midfielder’s contract expires at the end of the season, meaning the Bianconeri should be able to pick him up on the cheap should they opt to pursue the player this winter.
Borussia Dortmund’s Axel Witsel remains an option, but Juve will only bring in two midfielders should two of their own leave in the upcoming window.