Sasa Lukic is a ‘very strong player’ but Torino will adapt if the Serbia international leaves to join Fulham in the Premier League, Serie A coach Ivan Juric tells Tuttomercatoweb.
Last summer, Il Granata lost Italy’s 2022 Defender of the Year to local rivals Juventus for an eye-watering sum of £42.5 million. Not that you’d know it. Torino are arguably better without Bremer than they were with the Brazil international, a team who finished tenth last season currently flying high in eighth.
And this gives Juric confidence that, if Lukic does depart before next week’s transfer deadline, Torino can keep plugging along in the top half of the table.
“Lukic is a very strong player. I consider him really strong because he combines the two phases (defensive and attacking). Tough, intelligent,” says Juric, linked with the Southampton job before Nathan Jones took over from Ralph Hasenhuttl at St Mary’s.
“I’m sorry that things don’t go the way I would like. There are these difficulties with (contract) renewals. Let’s see how things evolve, based on what the boy wants. We don’t just need to replace (him), but add to those who I think are good.”
Fulham are offering £7m for Torino and Serie A ace Sasa Lukic
Lukic, formerly the Torino captain, is due to become a free-agent in just 18 months’ time. And the 26-year-old is reportedly reluctant to put pen to paper on a new deal.
“I would always like him here, but there are different dynamics. A younger boy could arrive (to replace him). Sometimes it’s even right (to sell), as happened with Bremer,” Juric adds.
“We’ll manage, I think.”
According to Fabrizio Romano, Fulham have submitted an opening bid of £7 million. Lukic impressed for Serbia at the Qatar World Cup. He has spent the last seven years in Serie A, and is open to a new challenge in England.
Fulham, targeting a new right-back as well as a midfielder, are also keen on Fluminense’s Brazilian youngster Andre Trindade. It is believed, however, that Financial Fair Play concerns make a January arrival unlikely with Andre valued in excess of £17 million.
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