Juventus are already offering Denis Zakaria out to potential new clubs just six months after the Serie A side beat serious interest from Liverpool to seal the Swiss midfielder’s transfer.
That’s according to Calciomercato, who report the Bianconeri spent the entirety of June in talks with potential suitors for Zakaria. Juventus paid Borussia Monchengladbach an initial €4.5m (£4m) plus €4m (£3.5m) in add-ons for the 25-year-old, but see a chance to sell him.
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Massimiliano Allegri believed Zakaria could arrive as the Turin side’s second big shot in the winter market with Dusan Vlahovic. But between injuries, the 40-cap international left the the Juventus boss underwhelmed with his form, so he is considered a transferable player.
Zakaria is under contract in Turin through until 2026, so Juventus believe they can secure a significant capital gain. An upcoming World Cup where he will be a key star for Switzerland is also strengthening the Bianconeri’s valuation while they sound out possible new suitors.
Talks occurred with Atletico Madrid and Roma to send Zakaria in part-exchange for one of the Colchoneros or Giallorossi’s talents. Juventus also approached a number of alternative clubs, with a transfer away from the Allianz Stadium viewed as an increasingly likely event.
Juventus now offering Zakaria to clubs six months after beating Liverpool bid
Juventus offering Zakaria out to clubs just six months after signing the midfielder suggests Liverpool dodged a bullet in January. Jurgen Klopp was interested in a deal at the time with Borussia Monchengladbach keen to sell ahead of the Swiss seeing out his contract in June.
Reports by ESPN noted the Anfield hierarchy, along with Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, each made Die Fohlen serious offers before Juventus advanced on Zakaria. He had excelled in the German top-flight to earn their admiration, but not in Italy.
Then-BVB boss Marco Rose hailed Zakaria whilst his head coach at Gladbach, as the Swiss showed himself to be a fine box-to-box operator. Yet the move to Serie A has not worked out so far, so Zakaria may be looking for a club like Liverpool to show interest this summer.
“He is a very complete footballer, who still has a lot of development potential,” Rose told Sky Germany last year. “He has incredible dynamics, an understanding of the game and is not yet at the end of his development.”
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