JUVENTUS are close to clinching a £20million deal to sign Chelsea defender Nemanja Matic at the end of this season, according to Daily Express.
Talks over a deal for the Serbian international have been going on for more than a week and the Italian club are confident a deal can be struck.
It looks like Matic, whose form has dipped alarmingly this season after he was one of the lynchpins of the Chelsea team that won the title last year, could be one of the first players out of the door as new manager Antonio Conte prepares to take control this summer.
Matic, 27, was a model of consistency last season but has found it hard to hold down a regular place this term, after previous manager Jose Mourinho was sacked in December and his place taken by interim boss Guus Hiddink.
Matic was originally signed by Chelsea from MFK Kosice for £1.5m in 2009. But he failed to break through and was then sold to Benfica in a swap deal for Brazil defender David Luiz. Chelsea had to pay £21m to bring him back in 2014.
The Serb will not be the only player to depart Stamford Bridge this summer, as Conte reshapes a squad that has failed dismally this year. Brazil midfielder Oscar is also set to be a casualty. He has also been a target for Juventus but has offers from the Chinese Super League.
Chelsea are ready to listen to offers for goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, whose relationship with goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon has broken down – with Real Madrid and Barcelona both interested – but a potential £73m price tag would be a problem.
Strikers Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy are also set to leave, with on loan Alexandre Pato’s deal still under discussion. John Obi Mikel has an offer from Fenerbahce – and skipper John Terry is yet to be offered new deal.
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