Juventus have snubbed a £17million bid from Monaco for highly-rated Arsenal target Domenico Berardi, according to fresh reports in the Italian media.
La Gazzetta dello Sport claims the Ligue 1 outfit slapped the offer on the table earlier on this summer in an attempt to get their transfer dealings off to a flying start, only to be knocked back by the Serie A champions.
Cash-rich Monaco are yet to return with an improved offer but are said to be keeping a close eye on the 19-year-old’s development in Italy.
A source close to the Emirates Stadium told Football Express News that rising star Berardi has come to their attention and scouts from the north London club put together glowing reports after watching him in action last term.
He spent the 2013-14 campaign on loan at Sassuolo, for whom he produced several stunning individual performances.
In May he plundered his third hat-trick of the season in a 4-3 win at Fiorentina, and it took the talented Italian only 19 minutes to complete his eye-catching treble.
He could find the route to first-team football in Turin blocked by the possible arrival of hitman Juan Iturbe from Hellas Verona, while Juve are also in the hunt for Torino’s Alessio Cerci.
And this weekend they welcomed striker Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid.