Juventus are interested in signing Argentinean midfielder Javier Mascherano, following Sami Khedira´s injury last week that ruled him out of competitive football for two months.

The current Barcelona midfielder has been playing for the Spanish giants since the summer of 2010, when he joined them from Liverpool for a fee of approximately €24 million. Although he was mainly used as a centre back there, as Sergio Busquets is the starting defensive midfielder, he has regularly featured in midfield for his national team.

Replacing key players

The Italians have a huge void to fill in midfield, following the departures of Arturo Vidal and Andrea Pirlo this summer. While the club was mainly linked with attacking midfielders, particularly Julian Draxler and Mario Götze, now they might opt for signing another defensive midfielder and use Roberto Pereyra in a more advanced role.

Other players currently in the Bianconeri squad in that position are Kwadwo Asamoah and Stefano Sturaro. But the former has been sidelined with injury most of the past season and was mainly deployed as a wing back during Conte’s tenure. While the latter, as impressive as he was during some matches last season, particularly against Real Madrid, is only 22 and not experienced enough yet.

An impressive tenure at Barcelona

For the Blaugranas, Mascherano featured in 231 games and won 12 titles, including three La Liga trophies and two Champions League crowns. His contract expires in June 2018 and has an exit clause of €100 million. Previously he played for River Plate, Corinthians, West Ham and Liverpool, aside from being a regular starter for Argentina since 2004, and reaching the final in the last World Cup and twice in the Copa America.

Other names that were linked to Juventus in that position are Belgium midfielder Alex Witsel and Colombian Freddy Guarin, who could be swapped for Fernando Llorente as Inter are interested in the Spanish striker.  

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Hernán Busso
European football and tennis fanatic. You can follow me on twitter: https://twitter.com/Hernan1897