Juventus are reportedly looking to tempt Chelsea into selling midfielder Nemanja Matic by offering to include striker Simone Zaza in a deal for the Serb.
According to Sky Sport Italia (via Football Italia), Juve see Matic as the perfect replacement for Paul Pogba, and Chelsea were set to meet with the 28-year-old’s agent on Tuesday to discuss his future, but the club postponed.
Juve are reportedly prepared to let Zaza, 25, join Chelsea if they can get Matic in part-exchange, while the striker himself is “loosening” on his previous position that he does not want to leave Juve or Serie A, per Mediaset Premium (via Football Italia).
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The report added that Zaza was unconvinced by a potential move to Wolfsburg after the Bundesliga outfit offered €25 million (£21.4 million) for him, but he could be tempted by the chance to work under former Italy boss Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea are in desperate need of a new striker as they are set to start the 2016-17 Premier League season with only new man Michy Batshuayi and Diego Costa to rely on up front, the latter of whom could potentially be departing, as Geoff Sweet of the Sun reported.
While Zaza is far from Juve’s No. 1 striker, he has proved in the last few seasons that he has a knack for scoring goals, and he could be a useful player to have in the Chelsea side.
In only 663 minutes of Serie A football last season, the Italy international still managed to net five goals, while he also scored once in just half an hour of UEFA Champions League action, perWhoScored.com.
Meanwhile, following a stellar 2014-15 season when Chelsea won the Premier League, Matic endured a torrid campaign last term as he looked some way off his best.
Chelsea have brought in N’Golo Kante in the summer transfer window to bolster the midfield, and he will likely start under Conte as the first-choice defensive midfielder, per Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe:
Conte also has Cesc Fabregas and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to call upon in the middle of the park, while Mikel John Obi remains an option.
Per La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Yahoo Sports’ Chris Deeley), Matic is reportedly keen on a move to Juventus to be part of their challenge for the UEFA Champions League, a competition Chelsea will not be in next term.
Given the £89 million Juve have just raised by selling Pogba, they could make a handsome offer for Matic, and with Zaza included, Chelsea could well be tempted considering how short they are up front.
[Source:- Bleacher report]
