Juventus have reportedly made Manchester City defender Matija Nastasic one of their top summer transfer targets.
According to Italian source TuttoSport, the Serie A champions are determined to strengthen the heart of their backline before the 2014-15 campaign gets started and have high hopes of luring the 21-year-old back to Italy.
The Serbia international was one of Fiorentina’s stand-out performers before departing for City in 2012 as part of the deal which saw Stefan Savic move in the opposite direction.
TuttoSport claims Juve are preparing a loan offer with a view to a permanent move at the end of next season if he impresses in Turin.
However, the Blues are unlikely to be tempted by any kind of temporary switch and could hold out for a transfer fee during the next window.
Nastasic’s first season in England was a hit, and he was a regular fixture under then-manager Roberto Mancini, but he has endured a miserable time under the Italian’s successor, Manuel Pellegrini.
He initially retained his place in the team but a loss of form saw Argentina veteran Martin Demichelis replace him as captain Vincent Kompany’s partner in the centre of the defence last term.
An injury sustained against Chelsea on February 3 then saw Nastasic ruled out for the rest of the season.