Reports: Juventus, PSG closing in on Layvin Kurzawa-Mattia De Sciglio swap deal

One of the rumors that was more on the humorous side of the final weeks in the summer transfer window this past year involved Mattia De Sciglio and Paris Saint-Germain. It never materialized into anything that saw the Italian fullback go from the Italian champions to the French champions, but it was talked about enough where it was one of those rumors you suspected could pop up again during the next transfer window in four months.

And what do you know ...

According to reports in France as well as Sky Sport Italia and Goal Italia in Italy, De Sciglio looks to be set to get that rumored move to Paris. It’s not a straight sale like we heard about over the summer, but one half of a swap deal that will see a fullback go back the other way in the deal a lot like what Juventus did with Manchester City in the Joao Cancelo-Danilo deal six months ago. While Juventus are close to sending De Sciglio to PSG, the Italian champions are reportedly set to receive Layvin Kurzawa in the other half of a deal that is close to be getting closer and closer to being complete in relatively short order.

This deal, according to pretty much everybody reporting it, is on the verge of being 100 percent agreed upon and dates for medical exams being locked down.

Here is more from Sky Sport Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, who on Friday described the deal as “on the verge of closing”:

Juventus are set to complete a swap deal with Paris St Germain involving two wingbacks. In fact Mattia De Sciglio is close to joining the Ligue 1 champions in exchange for Layvin Kurzawa, both players have struggled to get consistent playing time this season.

The reports from L’Equioe have been confirmed, both players are expected to join their new clubs on a permanent basis, it remains to be seen if one of the two teams will receive additional financial considerations. The negotiation is in the closing stages.

The “additional financial considerations” seem to be the only thing that isn’t exactly clear right now. When Juventus completed the deal with Manchester City, it was obvious that Cancelo was valued much, much higher than Danilo, so Juve getting money back in the deal was a certainty. We haven’t really heard much at all just where the valuation of both Kurzawa and De Sciglio falls right now, and that is most likely the final step of the deal that is still being worked out despite many media outlets saying the deal is close to being done.

But Juventus’ desire to acquire somebody like the 27-year-old Kurzawa is rather obvious: The club wants, especially seeing how this season has developed, a healthy option with attacking potential that will be able to give Alex Sandro some cover. (Sandro has played the most minutes of any Juventus defender not named Leonardo Bonucci this season.)

De Sciglio, although versatile, hasn’t been that for Maurizio Sarri this season. He hasn’t exactly been a model of health throughout his Juventus (and Milan) career, with plenty of muscle injuries keeping him out of the squad on a consistent basis over the last three years. And with Juan Cuadrado emerging as Sarri’s No. 1 choice at right back, the amount of playing time for De Sciglio has shrunk just that much more over the last couple of months.

So, swap time it is then, I guess.