The prodigious Raffaele Palladino is on the verge of signing a new contract with Italian giants Juventus.
The 22-year-old is one of the hottest prospects in Italian football and Juve, who hope to ensure promotion to Serie A this season, see him as a key figure for the future.
The Old Lady are expected to offer Palladino a new contract until June 2012, thus tightening their grip on the former Salernitana ace.
The Serie B leaders are keen to tie down the man nicknamed 'Palladinho’ by President Giovanni Cobolli Gigli given the uncertain futures of David Trezeguet and Valeri Bojinov.
Trezeguet, contracted until June 2008, is set to be sold while the Bulgarian will probably return to Fiorentina once his co-ownership deal expires in the summer.
As a result, the Under-21 international is close to committing himself to the outfit despite interest from clubs such as Manchester United.
“Palladino is an untouchable player,” confirmed Juventus sporting director Alessio Secco recently.
The forward, whose current deal expires in 2010, will reportedly net a pay increase too which will result in him receiving around £1.1m a season.
Meanwhile, reports on Tuesday continue to claim that Juve are still hoping to lure Luca Toni from Fiorentina in June.
Real Madrid’s Antonio Cassano may also be an option, seeing as he shares the same agent as Palladino.
Football Italia