Italy’s premature exit from the World Cup will reportedly spark transfer activity at Serie A champions Juventus.
According to TuttoSport, the national team’s demise at the group stage in Brazil, following successive 1-0 defeats to Costa Rica and Uruguay, has led to Juve head coach Antonio Conte and director of football Giuseppe Marotta returning early from their holidays.
The two men must not only decide on the future of several of their own players who are on their way back from the morale-sapping tournament, but also draw up a list of targets in an attempt to build on last season’s success.
They defended their domestic title but did not win the Europa League, and the Turin giants are determined to launch an assault on next season’s Champions League.
The report claims a late move for Cagliari defender Davide Astori is under consideration, despite the fact that he is believed to be close to joining Lazio.
A source close to Anfield told Football Express News that Liverpool have monitored the 27-year-old for almost a year but the Reds do not expect to land him if he has the chance to remain in his homeland, which appears to be the case.
TuttoSport reveals that Juve will also rivals AC Milan’s long-term pursuit of Verona hitman Juan Iturbe, whose switch to the San Siro has been held up by the club’s failure to sell Robinho.
Former Porto man Iturbe scored eight goals in 33 appearances last season.