Juventus Transfers: Bianconeri planning to pursue Mauro Icardi

PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 29: Mauro Icardi of PSG during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille OSC (LOSC) at Parc des Princes stadium on October 29, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 29: Mauro Icardi of PSG during the Ligue 1 Uber Eats match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Lille OSC (LOSC) at Parc des Princes stadium on October 29, 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)

Juventus are desperate for attacking reinforcements this January with a long list of targets emerging. Alvaro Morata’s impending departure has hastened the Bianconeri’s need for a new addition and reports suggest they’ll pursue PSG striker Mauro Icardi.

New Barcelona manager Xavi is an admirer of Juve forward Morata and he’s keen to bring the Spaniard to Catalonia this month. The player wants the move, and the Bianconeri are happy to let Morata go if they can find a quick replacement.

It had become clear that it’d be difficult for Juve to secure their long-term number nine this winter. So, it seems that they’ll target a stop-gap option before reassessing in the summer. Dusan Vlahovic and Gianluca Scamacca have been discussed as potential long-term solutions.

Juventus open the door for Mauro Icardi deal

Mauro Icardi has failed to fire in a star-studded PSG team. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)
Mauro Icardi has failed to fire in a star-studded PSG team. (Photo by John Berry/Getty Images)

Regarding a short-term answer to Juve’s striker issue, the club have already sounded out several options. The latest from Gianluca Di Marzio (via @JuveFC) suggest that they’ll target former Inter Milan hitman Icardi this January.

La Gazzetta dello Sport’s Giovanni Albanese adds that there is a strategy in place to bring the Argentine forward to Turin. According to Albanese, Icardi could join Juventus on loan for six months with a €35m option to buy in the summer. That’s the same fee they would’ve paid Atletico Madrid to permanently buy Morata and it does seem slightly extortionate.

Nevertheless, Allegri is supposedly happy to add Icardi, a pure number nine, to his squad and the player is set to meet with PSG officials next week to clarify his position. His infamous wife and agent, Wanda, has been pushing for a move away.

A potential stumbling block

However, Sport Mediaset speculate that there might be a potential stumbling block in negotiations. They report that PSG would only be interested in a definitive sale of Icardi this month.

The French giants want to earn around €100m in player sales in January, and it remains to be seen whether they’ll let the Argentine depart on loan, or at least without a guarantee that he’ll be brought permanently in the summer.

Juventus must ensure that they only have a mere option to buy Icardi outright at the end of the season, not an obligation.