Reports stemming from Italy today suggest that Manchester United are expressing an interest in the signature of Juventus defender Daniele Rugani.
Juve struggles
25-year-old centre-half Rugani came up through the youth ranks of Juve, before an impressive loan spell with Empoli from 2013 to 2015 eventually saw the Italian handed the chance to impress as part of the Bianconeri’s first-team setup.
After playing a bit-part role over the seasons that followed, Rugani went on to rack up 22 Serie A starts during the 2017/18 season, finally beginning to suggest that he may go on to fulfill his undoubted potential.
As such, the Juventus hierarchy no doubt felt as though the 7-time capped international would eventually develop into a home-grown long-term successor to the famed trio of Andrea Barzagli, Leonardo Bonucci and Giorgio Chiellini.
This past season, however, saw Rugani, in the eyes of many, regress.
The stopper often looked overly timid at the heart of Max Allegri’s back-4, with Bonucci’s return from AC Milan having resulted in Rugani notching just 15 league appearances.
Daniele Rugani of Juventus in action during the serie A match between Benevento Calcio and Juventus at Stadio Ciro Vigorito on April 7, 2018 in Benevento, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
The Old Lady’s business on the transfer market this summer, meanwhile, will have done little in terms of reassuring the stopper.
Juve have brought in a trio of up and coming central-defenders over the last couple of months, in the form of Matthijs de Ligt, Merih Demiral and Cristian Romero (returned to Genoa on loan).
United interest
As such, as things stand, it remains altogether unclear whether Rugani has a long-term future in Turin.
And this has since resulted in mounting rumours of late that the 25-year-old could be on the move this summer.
The last 48 hours saw Arsenal hotly-tipped as a potential destination, with the Gunners having reportedly seen a 2-year loan proposal knocked back by the board at the Allianz Stadium:
Arsenal have reportedly made a bid to loan Juventus and Italy defender Daniele Rugani.
That’s the gossip.
More: https://t.co/0IXiCFag3k pic.twitter.com/XAfGI4eiDY
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 31, 2019
As per the latest reports stemming from Italy, though, another Premier League outfit, in the form of Manchester United, could also swoop for Rugani.
The long-term injury suffered by Eric Bailly has forced the Red Devils even further into the centre-half market, on the back of long-standing links to Harry Maguire.
And, according to the Gazzetta dello Sport (via SportWitness), Rugani appears to be one of a number of options under consideration:
Daniele Rugani | Suggestion Man United could turn attention to Serie A defender – Bailly injury a problem. https://t.co/yX8MkIxGkT #mufc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) August 1, 2019
Spurs open negotiations for Man United-linked Bruno Fernandes
