Italian Reports Claim Juventus Have Made Approach for Highly-Coveted Schalke Starlet
Juventus have approached Schalke 04 over the availability of promising 22-year-old midfielder Leon Goretzka.
Goretzka impressed for the young German side at this summer's Confederations Cup scoring twice, as his side eased their way to the trophy.
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According to Italian journalist Giovanni Albanese (via Football Italia) important developments over the deal are expected to be carried over the next couple of days, andSchalke may be reluctantly forced to sell with the midfielder's contract set to expire next June.
Goretzka joined the Bundesliga side from VFL Bochum in 2013 for a small £2.9m and any potential transfer to the Old Lady is looking to be at a price of around £22m.
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An impressive last campaign for Schalke where he contributed eight goals and six assists in 41 games for his side led to major interest from across Europe in the exciting playmaker, with Vincenzo Montella's big spending AC Milan and Premier League Tottenham Hotspur also rumoured to have shown an interest.
Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is keen to bolster his squad as they search for their first Champions League title since 1995 and he would love to add the German to ranks to join fellow new signings Wojciech Szczesny and Federico Bernardeschi move to the Juventus Stadium.
With the offer of Champions League football from Juve and consistent silverware that may well be enough to persuade Goretzka to swap the blue of Schalke for the famous black and white stripes of the Serie A holders, but with competition for places and other interested suitors, so far nothing is set in stone.
