Juventus are leading the race for Riccardo Calafiori, despite stiff competition both domestically and internationally. A number of clubs have expressed interest in the Bologna defender, with Milan and Napoli showing interest in Serie A, while Bayer Leverkusen and Tottenham have emerged as contenders from abroad.
Tuttosport (via Ilbianconero) report that Juventus Sporting Director Giuntoli has been active on this front for months, gaining a significant advantage over competitors while Calafiori has shown interest in joining Juventus, regardless of the possibility of reuniting with Thiago Motta, who launched and nurtured him at Bologna.
According to the report, Juventus are keen on the player regardless of managerial changes, and according to the Turin-based daily, a draft agreement has already been outlined for Calafiori, based on a five-year deal worth €2-2.5 million annually. While some final details need to be ironed out, the agreement is well underway.
Bologna hope to secure around €25 million for Calafiori, having acquired him from Basel for just €4 million (plus 40% of any future transfer fee). Talks have already begun between Juventus and Bologna to explore the feasibility of including a technical counterpart in the deal. Barbieri and Nicolussi Caviglia are highly favored by Bologna director Giovanni Sartori. Additionally, there’s the option of a loan deal for Tiago Djalò, who is also being closely monitored by Genoa. Progress is being made, and the coming weeks could be pivotal in finalizing the operation.
