Former Italy international linked with Juventus swap deal

Rome: Head coach Igor Tudor faces a tough task in the transfer market, desperately trying to offload those he has no intention of utilizing for the forthcoming Serie A campaign.

He has already sold a couple of outcasts and signed three exciting players to bolster his squad.

Rumors are circulating around the Italian sports press that a deal has been wrapped up for Jadon Sancho, despite Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim stating that none of his misfits will be sold on the cheap.

The reality is that swap deals are going to suit cash-strapped Juventus this summer.

AS Roma’s former Italy international star Bryan Cristante is a figure that could be involved in a straight swap for Juve’s central midfielder Weston McKennie.

The versatile 30-year-old tends to be implemented as a defensive midfielder, but can be utilized as a center-back, which would suit Tudor who already has defensive woes because of injuries.

Cristante being Italian would also fit in with Juve’s latest policy of strengthening national identity.

AS Roma, owned by Americans, would be particularly interested in adding a US international for both commercial and sporting reasons.

Juve showed interest in Cristante last summer for a potential part swap deal involving striker Federico Chiesa, but the then head coach Thiago Motta had the money to splash.

The Turin titans opted to spend big bucks on Teun Koopmeiners and Douglas Luiz, who both became flops, so are revisiting a number of former targets including Cristante.