Juventus Transfers: Contact made with Denis Zakaria’s agent

Juventus have made contact with the agent of midfielder Denis Zakaria, who will leave Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of the season.

The Bianconeri are once again looking to refresh their midfield this winter despite signing Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo in the summer. The club are hopeful of overseeing the departures of both Aaron Ramsey and Arthur Melo in January to facilitate the arrival of a fresh face.

The likes of Axel Witsel, Corentin Tolisso and Aurélien Tchouaméni had previously been linked with a move to Turin, but rumours on each of those fronts have cooled considerably. Thus, Swiss midfielder Zakaria currently looks like the most realistic option for Juventus with a move for Ajax sensation Ryan Gravenberch all but off the table.

The only question is whether Juve will attempt to secure Zakaria for a small fee in January or play the waiting game and fight off increased competition to pick him up for free in the summer.

Juventus & several other clubs have made contact with Denis Zakaria’s agent

According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Juventus are one of several clubs interested in the 25-year-old Swiss international. Romano reports that Juve, along with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and two unnamed English clubs have made contact with the player’s agent over a potential move.

This update emerged after Zakaria told Borussia Monchengladbach that he plans to leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Should Juventus pursue Zakaria?

Zakaria was widely regarded as one of Europe’s brightest midfield talents before he sustained a serious knee injury in March 2020 that hindered his development somewhat. He’s a versatile midfielder, one capable of playing in defence, although he isn’t of the playmaker ilk that Juventus require.

The Swiss international is more of the box-to-box type and his proficiency in this function is undisputed. Zakaria’s well-rounded; physical, athletic, technically sound and defensively astute.

While he leaves plenty to be desired on the creative front, this is a move that would be hard to criticise considering the likely anonymity of a price tag.