Juventus are reportedly keeping a close eye on Felipe Anderson's uncertain contract situation at Lazio.
The former West Ham United attacker returned for a second spell with the Biancocelesti in 2021, having previously represented the club for five years between 2013 and 2018 before being tempted to the English capital.
After a promising first season in England, Anderson's fortunes suffered a nosedive under David Moyes, and he also failed to reignite his career during a loan spell with Portuguese giants Porto in the 2020-21 season.
However, Anderson has made a name for himself in Serie A yet again since departing West Ham for a mere €3m (£2.6m) in 2021, amassing 20 goals and 23 assists in 119 matches for Maurizio Sarri's side.
The 30-year-old has made another strong start to the campaign playmaking wise in particular, already setting up five goals in 15 Serie A matches in 2023-24 - only Inter Milan's Marcus Thuram (six) has more.
© Reuters
Across his two spells at Stadio Olimpico, Anderson has now amassed 54 goals and 62 assists in 296 matches across all tournaments, achieving Supercoppa Italiana supremacy in 2017-18.
However, Anderson's future beyond the end of the season is contracted in uncertainty, as his existing deal with Lazio expires next summer, leaving the Biancocelesti at risk of losing him on a free transfer.
According to Calciomercato, Lazio have not been entirely satisfied with Anderson's exploits so far this season, as despite amassing six assists in all tournaments, he has only found the back of the net once.
Anderson is apparently after a four-year renewal worth €3.5m (£3m) a season to sign on the dotted line, but club president Claudio Lotito will not sanction such a deal unless his form improves in the coming months.
With the prospect of an exit on a free transfer looming, Juventus are supposedly keeping a close eye on the situation, and a fee-less deal is particularly appealing to director Cristiano Giuntoli.
© Reuters
However, Anderson's overriding priority is to come to an agreement with Lazio over a renewal, and he has also rebuffed advances from Saudi Arabia due to his desire to continue in Biancocelesti colours.
While Juventus are targeting midfield reinforcements first and foremost in January amid Nicolo Fagioli and Paul Pogba's suspensions, the report adds that a right-winger is also on Massimiliano Allegri's wishlist.
The Old Lady signed Timothy Weah from Lille over the summer in response to Dejan Kulusevski, Angel Di Maria and Juan Cuadrado's exits, but the 23-year-old has been out with a hamstring injury since the end of October.
Juventus are also said to be open to winter bids for Samuel Iling-Junior, who has struggled to play his way into Allegri's good books this season and is thought to be on Tottenham Hotspur's radar.
Juve stayed two points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan with a 1-0 win over Napoli on Friday and are back in action away to Genoa in five days' time.
Ben Knapton
