Lille defender Tiago Djalo has given his preference to Inter Milan, but Juventus are still working to overtake their rivals.
The 23-year-old is currently running on an expiring contract. The Nerazzurri have been negotiating with his entourage over a free transfer in the summer.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport via FcInterNews, the Portuguese would like to join Simone Inzaghi’s ranks in June.
However, the Old Lady is laying a plan to hijack the operation and lure to defender to Turin.
As the pink newspaper explains, Juventus are looking to offer Lille a couple of million euros in addition to bonuses to seal a January transfer.
For their part, the Ligue 1 side would certainly prefer to sell the player and collect some cash rather than watching him leave for free at the end of the season.
Nevertheless, the Bianconeri would still have to convince Djalo.
While he prefers to make the switch to Inter, the Sporting Lisbon youth product would like to be active during the second half of the season.
The Portuguese sustained an ACL injury last March that has kept him out of action ever since. Thus, he’s itching to make his return to the pitch as soon as possible.
However, Lille aren’t eager to invest in a player who will leave the club in a matter of months. They would rather give the opportunity to other players.
In other words, if Djalo wants to wait for Inter, he’ll have to do so on the bench.
Juventus Looking To Sign Inter Milan Transfer Target Tiago Djalo In January
On the contrary, Juventus are willing to strike a deal with Lille that would see him join the club in January.
The Bianconeri would have to sell a youngster like Matias Soule or Samuel Iling-Junior to fund the operation.
In such a case, it remains to be seen if Inter would decide to match Juve’s offer in January.
The source also mentions Paris Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid who remain in the background.