Massimiliano Allegri has told Miralem Pjanic he wants the Tottenham Hotspur target to join Juventus from Barcelona alongside Manuel Locatelli this summer, per TuttoMercatoWEB.
The Tuscan coach and Turin hierarchy have assured Pjanic they want him back at the Allianz Stadium for next season. And their interest in the Barcelona outcast is not dependent on their plans for Locatelli, as Juventus want both midfielders.
Barcelona are looking to offload Pjanic to help ease their financial crisis and would allow him to leave for free. He only moved to the Camp Nou last June for £55m plus £4.5m in add-ons, while Arthur moved in the opposite direction for £66m plus £9m.
Juventus would need Pjanic to accept a pay cut to re-join the Serie A giants, however, which Tottenham would not. TuttoMercatoWEB previously noted Spurs would have no problem matching the 31-year-old’s £120,000-per-week contract if it meant he joined.
Spanish publication Sport also claim Nuno Espirito Santo has given Fabio Paratici the go-ahead to sign Pjanic for Tottenham. Although they could face competition from north London rivals Arsenal, while Juventus is the 100-cap international’s favoured destination.
And while Juventus would need Pjanic to accept a pay cut and offload some of their current midfielder first, TuttoMercatoWEB now add that he would be willing to discuss lesser terms if it ensured he returned to the club this summer.
Now, he must wait for the Old Lady to make their necessary cuts with Aaron Ramsey the top candidate. While Juventus must hope Tottenham, or rival suitors like Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain, do not offer Pjanic better terms.
Allegri deals Tottenham blow telling Pjanic to snub move for Juventus return
Allegri has dealt Nuno and Paratici a blow after telling Pjanic to snub Tottenham’s interest as he wants him at Juventus. The Italian’s declaration will give the Bosnian reason to hold out, than accept the first payday that emerges.
It would likely be the salary on offer that sees Pjanic select Tottenham over a return to Juventus, as well. He knows what he can achieve at the Serie A side and under Allegri, having won three Scudettos together.
The 31-year-old also played 135 games over three seasons under Allegri, scoring 19 goals and offering 33 assists. Compared to failing to score or assist a single goal in 30 outings under Ronald Koeman, of which he started 13 in all competitions, at Barcelona last season.
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