The head coach is keen for the Turin giants to add to their recent acquisitions of right-back Alberto Costa from Vitoria Guimaraes and center-back Renato Veiga from Chelsea.
The Bianconeri are ideally after three new defenders during the January transfer window, and appear to be looking no further than the English Premier League (EPL). The keen interest includes a pair of players that they previously courted.
While Axel Disasi could shortly follow Veiga to Turin, there are other candidates to become the third versatile defender to join this month.
Giant central defender Disasi has been utilised at right-back Chelsea this term. Yet like Veiga, he was not playing in his favoured position by Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.
Ex-Monaco ace Disasi doesn’t seem like he would suit Motta’s demanding tactics of defender getting up and down the pitch. Accordingly, Juve have Newcastle United’s Lloyd Kelly and West Ham’s Jean-Clair Todibo back on their radar.
The pair have previously been closely monitored by the Bianconeri, but no deal transpired during the summer. Now it appears that either Kelly nor Todibo seem particularly happy at their respective clubs.
Cristiano Giuntoli, the Juventus sporting director, has been in England for discussions about a potential deal for the English-based pair but any agreements need ironing out.
It is understood that the Bianconeri are only seeking to bring in players on loan. While both Newcastle and West Ham have dug their heels in and will only agree to a loan deal with an obligation to buy.
Kelly was impressing at AFC Bournemouth when Juve last showed interest, but he opted to stay in the EPL and move on a freebie to Newcastle during the summer. However, he appears underused under head coach Eddie Howe. The manager has propelled the side up the league table, making great progress in recent months with a settled starting lineup.
The 26-year-old only teamed up again with Howe last July. Howe signed him from Bristol City in 2019, when he was the Bournemouth manager. Kelly would suit Motta as he can also play in central defence as well as left-back.
Juventus were perilously close to securing the services of Todibo during the summer, but the €35 million (US$36.8m) deal with OGC Nice never materialised. Instead the 25-year-old France international joined West Ham on loan.
The former Barcelona star was signed by Julen Lopetegui at West Ham. However, the Hammers have since replaced him as head coach with ex-Chelsea flop Graham Potter, leaving Todibo unsure about his future.
The stumbling block is that West Ham brought in Todibo with an obligation to buy, so the club will demand a sale rather than a loan.
Limited playing time for the trio of Disasi, Kelly and Todibo means that a move definitely makes sense for them. Ironing out the logistics of a loan, with teams insistent of an obligation to buy, is the only obstacle that is preventing Motta from bagging his third defender during the January transfer window.