Francisco Trincao’s spectacular season in the Portuguese top tier, with eight goals from 32 league appearances, has also alerted interest from Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle United.
As Juve appear to be reluctant to play FC Porto loanee Francisco Conceicao, who has fallen down the pecking order since Igor Tudor took the reins in March, the 25-year-old has been elevated onto the club’s summer wishlist.
Trincao came through the youth academy at Braga. Once established in the senior side, he was snapped up by Barca in January 2020 on a five-year deal for €31 million (US$35.1m).
The Spanish titans were so convinced that he would be the next soccer superstar that they inserted a whopping buyout clause of €500m (US$566.5m).
Yet just 18 months later Trincao joined Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan. He made 30 appearances for the Premier League outfit, who turned down the option to buy.
As an outcast at the Nou Camp, Trincao signed a one-year loan deal with Sporting Lisbon that included a buy back clause of €20-€25m (US$23.6-US$27.3m).
Team up with Amorim
Sporting head coach Amorim persisted to start Trincao, and he came good. Amorim was lured to Manchester United last November and is keen to sign some of his former stars this summer.
Scouts who were checking out rue their eye at Sporting’s red-hot striker Viktor Gyokeres saw the impact of whizzy winger Trincao in the Primeira Liga.
Trincao, part of a formidable frontline alongside Pedro Goncalves and Gyokeres, appears to be reaching his peak years as a professional soccer player and is valued by Sporting at a bargain price of just €40m (US$47.2m).
He has recently embraced being unleashed on the international stage by manager Roberto Martinez. Trincao bagged an impressive brace as a second-half substitute in March’s 5-2 Nations League triumph over Denmark, his first goals for Portugal.
Trincao’s dynamic style of play, ability to score goals and versatility appears to make him one of the better summer targets that Juve sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has listed.