Diego Coppa caught the attention of Thiago Motta and was almost signed from Hellas Verona during the winter transfer window.
Lloyd Kelly arrived instead, but the Newcastle United misfit has been such a flop that he was labelled as the club’s worst ever purchase on Juventus fan forums instead.
Yet Juve face a battle to bag a promising center-back who has become a Premier League target.
With numerous defenders associated with a potential summer move to the Bianconeri, the club are rekindling their interest in 21-year-old Coppola. He is equally at home in a back three, four or five and boosts tactical intelligence far beyond his young age.
After Coppola got his first international call-up, named in Luciano Spalletti’s Italy squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Norway, Premier League sides Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove showed keen interest.
Having started 18 Serie A games for the 2023/24 campaign, the former Verona youth academy starlet experienced a tough season during Verona’s Serie A relegation battle. Coppola bagged two goals from 34 appearances
.He is valued at €12-€15 million (US$13.7m-US$17.1m), which seems like a snip for a 21-year-old full of promise whose five-year deal expires in 2027.
Juve’s objective appears, despite the unceremonious exit of Cristiano Giuntoli as sporting director, to establish a robust Italian core within the squad.
There is likely to be a bidding war for Coppola between Italian teams and Premier League clubs. Although Juventus legend Georgio Chiellini, who has just been appointed as the new director of football strategy in a shake-up at the Bianconeri, as a former international defender could push for Coppola.
Lazio are the biggest Serie A threat to Juventus, as they were monitoring Coppola during the previous transfer window. With Maurizio Sarri having just returned as head coach, just 15 months after he resigned from the club, he could make a move for Coppola.
Verona’s American owners Presidio Investors, who took over earlier this year, may not wish to relinquish one of the Gialloblu’s most prized assets.