Juventus have reportedly added Fiorentina lynchpin and Manchester United loanee Sofyan Amrabat to their shortlist of summer midfield options.
The Morocco international found himself on the radar of top clubs across Europe with a spate of tenacious displays at the 2022 World Cup, helping the Atlas Lions become the first African team in history to reach the semi-finals.
Amrabat remained loyal to Fiorentina in the 2023 January transfer window, but in the last knockings of the summer market, Man United struck a deal to sign the 27-year-old on loan for the 2023-24 campaign.
Amrabat has made 22 appearances for Erik ten Hag's men since arriving at Old Trafford, but he is without a goal or assist in that time and has largely struggled to adapt to the rigours of Premier League football.
Furthermore, only seven of the midfielder's 14 appearances in the top flight have come from the first whistle, and he has been bumped down the pecking order by 18-year-old Kobbie Mainoo in recent weeks.
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Without a Premier League start since December 17, Amrabat is not expected to earn a permanent move to Man United - who have the option to buy him from Fiorentina - at the end of the campaign.
As a result, a return to La Viola is on the cards this summer, but he is only under contract with the Italian side until the end of the 2024-25 season, leaving his long-term future clouded in uncertainty.
Should Amrabat not do enough to stay at the Theatre of Dreams permanently, La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Juventus could offer him an alternative escape route from Fiorentina this summer.
The report claims that the Moroccan is already pining for a return to Serie A, and both the player and Fiorentina are believed to be keen on a mutual parting of the ways in the upcoming transfer window.
Juve are reportedly hopeful that their strong relationship with the Viola could aid them in negotiations, as the two clubs shook hands on a deal to send Arthur on loan to the Stadio Artemio Franchi last year.
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Fiorentina also possess the option to sign Arthur permanently, and since loaning out the former Liverpool man again, Juventus have also lost Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli to lengthy suspensions for doping and illegal gambling respectively.
Pogba was handed a maximum four-year penalty for elevated testosterone levels and will not finish serving his suspension until 2027, one year after his existing contract with Massimiliano Allegri's side runs its course.
The French World Cup winner has announced that he intends to appeal his sentence to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, but if he is unsuccessful, Juventus would be expected to terminate his contract.
However, Fagioli will be back at Allegri's disposal in pre-season, as he is already five months into a seven-month ban for betting on illegal platforms, since when Juve have relied on Manuel Locatelli, Adrien Rabiot, Weston McKennie, Fabio Miretti and Southampton loanee Carlos Alcaraz in the middle.
McKennie and Rabiot continue to be linked with moves to the Premier League, though, and the latter is now in the final six months of his deal in Turin, but the Old Lady are hopeful of agreeing an extension.
Ben Knapton
