08 November 2023 , 12:29
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Juventus want to sign one of three Premier League midfielders in January - and Thomas Partey is at the top of their transfer shortlist.
Partey, 30, is seeking a move after falling down the pecking order at Arsenal. The Ghana international hasn't started in the Premier League since August due to a groin injury but is no longer first-choice for Mikel Arteta.
Arteta signed Declan Rice and Kai Havertz during the summer to play alongside captain Martin Odegaard in midfield. All of Partey's three league starts this season have been at right-back, with England star Rice having taken his place at the base of midfield following his switch from West Ham.
That's forced Partey to consider his future, but Juventus are also thought to be interested in Manchester City star Kalvin Phillips and Tottenham ace Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg. The Italians are chasing a new midfielder after losing both Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli to suspension.
Fagioli received a seven-month ban from the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) in October for breaching their betting rules, with a further five months suspended. The 22-year-old midfielder has admitted to having a gambling addiction and will seek therapy.
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Pogba, 30, failed a drugs test in September and has received a provisional suspension. The France international will find out the full extent of his punishment shortly, with reports in Italy suggesting he could be handed a two-year ban.
As such, Juventus' sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli and his deputy Giovanni Manna both travelled to England to monitor targets this week. They watched Hojbjerg play in Tottenham's 4-1 home defeat to Chelsea on Monday.
The Denmark international, 28, has fallen down the pecking order at Tottenham since the appointment of Ange Postecoglou as manager in June. Hojbjerg, who has 20 months left on his contract, could be available for around £25million in January.
Kalvin Phillips and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg are also on Juventus' transfer shortlist (Getty Images)Who do you think Juventus should sign in January? Let us know in the comments below!
After watching Hojbjerg on Monday, Giuntoli and Manna travelled to the Etihad to see Phillips play against Young Boys the following night. The England international, 27, came on in the 61st minute of the game when City were already three goals up.
Phillips has struggled to break into Pep Guardiola's starting XI since arriving from Leeds in a £45m deal in July 2022, starting just five games. He still has four-and-a-half years left on his contract but could be available in January due to his lack of minutes.
Juventus have made a good start to the season under Massimiliano Allegri, winning eight of their first 11 Serie A games to sit second in the table - just two points behind leaders Inter Milan. Yet Allegri needs reinforcements if they're to mount a full Scudetto challenge.