Report: Juventus ’increasingly confident’ they can sign Joao Cancelo

As we wait to see if Manchester United will budge on their reported €20 million price tag for Matteo Darmian, it looks as though Beppe Marotta and Juventus are trying to find what is a quality alternative.

Juve’s interest in Valencia Joao Cancelo isn’t new. But unlike previous attempts — like, say, last summer when Cancelo ended up going to Inter instead — the 2018 summer version of Marotta’s pursuit has had much more positive results, according to reports in Italy this week.

The most recent one of those media reports came on Wednesday night, as Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio is saying that things are increasingly progressing in Juventus’ attempt to sign the 24-year-old Portuguese right back. More from Di Marzio’s website:

Juventus’ hopes of signing Portuguese right-back Cancelo are increasing by the hour.

Hey, that’s good! Tell me more...

Marotta and Paratici are considering meeting the Spanish club’s asking price of €40 million and it’s possible that the situation could be decided in the next few days, also considering that the deal could be funded by the departures of some players that could leave the Bianconeri shortly.

Of course, the thing that jumps off the page is the fact that Cancelo’s reported asking price is €40 million. That’s, of course, a sign of what the market for talented players these days. And, based on a report earlier in the day from the Gazzetta dello Sport, it’s one that Juventus is trying like hell to bring down — even if it means potentially throwing somebody like Marko Pjaca into the deal. (Fellow Pjaca fans, don’t worry, said bid was rejected by Valencia, according to La Gazzetta.)

Is Cancelo worth that €40 million fee? Probably not.

But when it comes to which deal is looking more likely to happen between Cancelo and Darmian, the former is definitely gaining ground even though it could cost well above what the latter would cost.

Ah, summer transfer rumor season is fun. Just when one deal looks like it might happen, another one comes right in and takes all the attention from the first one.