Juventus are struggling to finalise an agreement to sign rumoured Arsenal and Liverpool target Manuel Locatelli from Sassuolo due to the terms of their offer, per Calciomercato.
The Bianconeri are continuously pressing for the Italian’s arrival at the Allianz Stadium and met with Neroverdi chiefs last Friday. But a few hurdles ensured talks between the Italian top-flight sides failed to culminate with a deal being agreed.
Mainly, the terms Juventus are offering fail to satisfy Sassuolo as the Old Lady want to sign Locatelli on loan. However, Massimiliano Allegri’s outfit only want to include an obligation to buy the Euro 2020 winner if the clause is activated by winning the Serie A this season.
Sassuolo would prefer the mandatory purchase commitment to have no strings attached to guarantee Locatelli’s sale to Juventus next summer. Goal add Friday’s meeting only lasted an hour, with further talks scheduled for this week to again discuss finances.
Juventus have pursued Locatelli for months, while the Sassuolo star wants to complete a move to Turin this summer. Reports have also claimed Arsenal and Liverpool want to sign Locatelli, who Goal note the Neroverdi value at £35m.
Arsenal showed concrete interest in Locatelli earlier in the window, with Sassuolo CEO Giovanni Carnevali confirming they bid to Sky. Reports by Gazzetta dello Sport later added Liverpool were assessing a potential approach to strengthen Jurgen Klopp’s engine room.
Juventus’ difficulties to agree terms with Sassuolo and the fast end to Friday’s meeting will now offer Arsenal and Liverpool hope of signing Locatelli. But the Premier League rivals must still convince the 23-year-old to ignore the Bianconeri’s advances.
This week crucial in Arsenal and Liverpool hopes of signing Juventus target Locatelli
This week could also give Arsenal and Liverpool a clearer picture of Locatelli’s future once Sassuolo have spoken with Juventus. The Serie A sides may overcome their impasse on the purchase clause, which currently gives Mikel Arteta and Klopp their greatest hope of a deal. Especially with Sassuolo open to Locatelli’s next suitor deferring payment until 2022.
Both managers would benefit from having an engine room operator of Locatelli’s standard in their squads. Particularly Arteta, who watched Arsenal begin the new Premier League season in disappointing fashion against newly-promoted Brentford last Friday.
Albert Sambi Lokonga often gave possession to the Bees when he tried to be adventurous on the ball. The summer arrival struggled to settle into his competitive debut, while on-the-night captain Granit Xhaka also failed to lead. The Swiss’ passing particularly leaving much to the imagination when he chose to take a risk. Areas in which Locatelli often thrives.
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