Juventus are reportedly eyeing an ambitious swap deal in January involving Arthur Melo and Everton full-back Lucas Digne.
According to a recent report from Sportmediaset, Juventus are ready to part ways with Arthur Melo in the upcoming January transfer window. While the 25-year-old Brazilian midfielder has no shortage of suitors, the Bianconeri are hoping to include him in a direct swap deal involving Lucas Digne, who is one of the top targets for the Italian giants next month.
Digne has been a subject of major speculations in recent weeks, especially after a fallout with Rafael Benitez. The Everton head coach has already frozen the Frenchman out of the first team for three straight Premier League matches, raising doubts over his long-term future at Goodison Park.
The speculations have been fueled further by recent reports that suggest the Toffees are already preparing for Digne’s departure by bringing in a new left-back. Everton are on the verge of capturing Vitaliy Mykolenko from Dynamo Kyiv, who is tipped to become the club’s first January signing.
The recent set of events have now put Juventus on red alert, with the Italian outfit currently in the market for a left-back. It appears Massimiliano Allegri is looking for a reliable alternative for Alex Sandro, who has endured a steady decline over the past couple of years.
Digne, to that end, fits the bill well as he offers the technical prowess and athleticism that could make Juventus much more lethal on the counter. With over 100 Premier League appearances and almost 50 caps for the French national team, the Everton star also offers considerable experience at the highest level of football.
Juventus are prepared to sacrifice Arthur Melo in the hope of signing the 28-year-old next month. Formerly of Barcelona, the Brazilian midfielder has fallen out of favour in Turin, having featured in just five matches in the league so far. It appears he has fallen behind Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot and Rodrigo Bentancur, with very little chance of redeeming himself, at least at Juventus.
However, despite his struggles in Serie A, Arthur remains a top target for many clubs across Europe, including Arsenal. But Juventus’s desire to send the 25-year-old out to Everton as part of a direct swap deal could be a logical move, given the Toffees are in the market for a new midfielder that can offer more depth to Benitez.
That said, it is fair to point out that Juventus are not the only team interested in Lucas Digne. The left-back is a potential target for Chelsea as well as other Premier League giants like Leicester City and Newcastle United. So it will be interesting to see what the future holds for the Frenchman in the upcoming January transfer window.
