Juventus plan to target Barcelona midfielder if Paul Pogba leaves

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Juventus are planning a move for Barcelona midfielder Franck Kessie if Paul Pogba decides to leave Turin for the Saudi Pro League.

Pogba played just 161 minutes for Juventus last season, but that hasn’t stopped Al Ahli from aggressively pursuing the French international.

The Saudi club are reportedly ready to offer a staggering €150 million deal for the oft-injured midfielder, which could be an offer he can’t refuse.

It’s unclear how much Juventus would fight the offer, considering Pogba’s injury history and the fact that if the former Manchester United man moves to Saudi Arabia, it could save Juve over €31 million on their wage bill.

Kessie a target for Allegri

If Pogba does decide to leave, Barca man Franck Kessie is on the wishlist for manager Massimiliano Allegri, in fact, he’s right at the top.

Juve would be looking for a midfielder who can break up play and add some physicality to the middle of the park and that’s exactly what Kessie would bring.

After a disappointing first season in Bara after leaving Italy, it’s believed that Kessie would be open to a lateral move within Europe after turning down an approach from the Saudi league.

The Ivorian midfielder is used to the rigours of Italian football having spent considerable time with Atalanta, Cesena and AC Milan before heading to Spain.

His time in Italy was a lot more successful than his first year in Catalonia.

it’s believed that Kessie is one of the players that Joan Laporta would be willing to move in order to reduce the wage bill at Barca and create space for incoming players.

The club president admitted earlier this week that the La Liga champions still needed to recruit two midfielders this summer, and if they manage to do that, Kessie will tumble down the pecking order.