Paulinho transfer latest: Juventus interest in making £20m bid for Tottenham midfielder as Arturo Vidal move to Manchester United inches closer
Brazil international joined Spurs last summer for around £17m but could be on his way to Italy
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Your support makes all the difference.Italian league champions Juventus are believed to be looking at Tottenham midfielder Paulinho as a possible replacement should Manchester United move for Arturo Vidal.
The three-time consecutive Serie A champions are eyeing a £20m bid for the Brazilian according to the Telegraph, and with interest in Vidal coming from the red half of Manchester, the central midfielder is believed to be the perfect fit for the Old Lady, even though he has not enjoyed the past season at White Hart Lane or the World Cup in Brazil.
With Spurs chairman Daniel levy likely to hold out for around £25m, Juventus may have to up their bid, especially if Vidal completes a move to Old Trafford. With Louis van Gaal on his way to Manchester after his World Cup duty with the Netherlands came to an end on Saturday night, United’s transfer activity could begin to increase, with the Chile international high up on the priority list as the United squad continues to be rebuilt.
Paulinho has insisted that he is happy with the North London club, but with the allure of Champions League football, the quest to land a fourth-straight Seria A crown and the belief that the Bianconeri can challenge the best in Europe, a move to Italy would be hard to turn down should Spurs give him the go ahead to discuss a move.
The 25-year-old was a key figure in Luiz Felip Scolari’s plans for the World Cup, although he didn’t enjoy the best of campaigns back in his homeland as Brazil stumbled to the semi-finals before suffering the humiliation of a 7-1 defeat to Germany and the 3-0 loss to the Netherlands yesterday night in the battle for third place.
He cost Spurs around £17m last summer as part of the influx of players signed with the money generated from Gareth Bale’s departure, so any sale this year is likely to result in Spurs making a nice profit on a player that struggled to adapt to life in London.
The midfielder scored six Premier League goals last season, but struggled to produce his best on a consistent basis, and he also saw red in the 5-0 thrashing by Liverpool.
Juventus’ interest in Paulinho could be strengthened further should Chelsea and Real Madrid follow up their interest in France international Paul Pogba, who has stood out in the Juventus midfield since his arrival at the club two years ago from Manchester United.
Unlike Paulinho, Pogba enjoyed a strong World Cup despite France’s quarter-final exit to finalists Germany, and while the 21-year-old is unlikely to leave the Juventus Stadium this summer, a bug money bid would test the Italian’s resolve to the limit.
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