Juventus target Palermo pair Thursday 17 November, 2005
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Juventus and Palermo are in negotiations over a double-deal that would see Andrea Barzagli and Simone Barone head to Turin.
Barzagli (pictured) and Barone are both emerging talents who have earned international recognition with Marcello Lippi’s Azzurri side and have caught the eye of Juve Coach Fabio Capello.
Don Fabio is said to have already ‘booked’ Barzagli in for next season, while Barone has been identified as the solution to a Bianconeri midfield back-up problem that neither Manuele Blasi nor Giuliano Giannichedda have managed to cure.
The 27-year-old would not come cheap, though, given that Palermo paid £2.4m to Parma for the midfielder’s services. His stock having since risen after winning caps for Italy, Barone is now said to worth somewhere in the region of £4.75m.
Juventus, though, are discussing a player-plus-cash deal with Blasi and Antonio Mirante - whose on-loan performances in goal for Siena this term have attracted the interest of Rosanero Coach Luigi Del Neri - going in the opposite direction.
The Sicilian side are keen on acquiring the shot-stopper as early as January, but with La Vecchia Signora having promised Siena they can keep Mirante until the end of the season, the double-deal is unlikely to take place until the summer.
source: channel4.com