Jadon Sancho’s career at Manchester United appears to be reaching its final chapter, and the winger already has his sights set on a fresh start in Turin.
According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, Juventus could finalise a deal for the England international later this week.
The Serie A giants are keen on bringing the Englishman to Italy, and while the deal isn’t sealed yet, there’s growing optimism that a breakthrough could be just around the corner.
Sancho is keen to join Juventus, and that desire could be the key to unlocking a complicated negotiation.
The player’s desire gives Juventus a fighting chance, especially as they struggle to match United’s demands.
United have already made their decision on Sancho. They’ve removed him from their plans and have chosen not to include him in their squad for pre-season.
Sancho is one of several players to have their holiday extended, with United hoping to drum up interest in their wantaway stars.
The 25-year-old has one year left on his contract, so United are desperate to get him off their books this summer, and Juventus appears to be their best option.
Both clubs are locked in negotiations but are €5 million (£4.3m) apart in their valuation. United want €30m (£25.8m) for Sancho, but Juventus are hoping to finalise a deal for around €25m (£21.5m).
Juventus are hoping to structure the deal with bonuses and performance-related add-ons.
There’s also talk of proposing a potential player-plus-cash deal to reduce the overall cost. United are in the market for a midfielder, and Ruben Amorim is reportedly a fan of Douglas Luiz.
Juventus could use the Brazilian midfielder as a makeweight in their bid to land Sancho.
Sancho’s salary demand could be another sticking point. He currently earns around €15m (£13m) gross per year at United, a figure far beyond Juventus’ budget.
Juventus have a €6m (£5m) salary cap, but Sancho is reportedly willing to take a pay cut to force a move.