“Football loses an extraordinary player who was different from all the others. Let’s wait for the sanction. This saddens us all, we hope the best for him, because on a psychological level it must not be easy for him”. Sad when reacting to the confirmation of Paul Pogba’s positive test for testosterone, Massimiliano Allegri gave the impression that the French midfielder’s career was almost over. No one apart from the main interested party can be so affirmative, but one thing is certain: Juventus are finished with Pogba.
Despite a contract running until 2026, the Frenchman is suspended by his club and he only receives €42,000 per year (compared to €8 million previously). Suffice to say that the Old Lady is waiting for the announcement of the player’s sanction to part with him. She also began looking for her successor. Recently, the Italian press has mentioned the names of Thomas Partey (Arsenal) and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Tottenham). This Tuesday, the Gazzetta dello Sport However, we learn that these avenues are very expensive. Spurs are demanding at least €30 million for the Dane. Just like Sassuolo, faced with the Bianconeri’s growing interest in Domenico Berardi.
The French are popular in Turin
The Piedmontese team would then have moved on to other profiles and three of them are French! Indeed, in addition to the German from Udinese Lazar Samardzic, Juve would be seduced by Manu Koné (22 years old, Borussia Mönchengladbach), Youssouf Fofana (24 years old, Monaco) and Habib Diarra (19 years old, Strasbourg). Three tracks which will not be given either. Concerning Koné, the former Toulouse midfielder is linked to his club until 2025, but he had already made it known that he was ready for a change of scenery during the last summer transfer window. Tracked by PSG and Liverpool, the international Espoir (11 caps) will soon find himself in a contractual situation which will force Gladbach to consider a sale if he does not extend.
The Fofana case could, on the other hand, be simpler. The French international (11 selections) is one of the indisputable holders of the ASM, but his contract ends in June 2024. Next January, he will therefore be free to choose his future destination if he does not return with the princely club. Last summer, Chelsea, Fulham and PSG were associated with his name. Finally, Habib Diarra has the most promising profile of the players cited above, but Strasbourg is proving very tough in business with its nugget under contract until 2027. Tracked by Wolverhampton and Lens, the international Espoir tricolor (2 caps) had received an offer of €25 million from the English. Proposal rejected by the RCSA. Juventus had already been cited as courting, but it is fixed.
