Juventus could reportedly use the monies saved from slashing Paul Pogba's salary to fund a 2024 move for Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey.
Former Manchester United midfielder Pogba returned to Turin for a second time last summer after his Red Devils deal expired, but his nightmare return to the Bianconeri seems set to come to a bitter end.
Following an injury-hit 2022-23 season in which he played just 10 games, Pogba tested positive for non-endogenous testosterone following a random drugs test after August's opening Serie A win over Bologna.
The French World Cup winner was provisionally suspended pending a counter-analysis, which confirmed abnormally high levels of the hormone, and he is now facing a maximum ban of up to four years.
Pogba's sanctions have not yet been determined, and his contract with Juventus still runs until the summer of 2026, but the Bianconeri are widely expected to rip up his deal in the wake of the scandal.
© Reuters
Pogba is believed to have agreed to a yearly wage of €8m (£6.9m) when he returned to Juventus last summer, but news of his positive B sample has seen the Bianconeri slash his earnings to just €2k (£1.7k) per month.
With Nicolo Fagioli also serving a seven-month suspension for illegal betting, Juventus are expected to dip into the market for a midfielder in January and have been strongly linked with a swoop for Partey.
According to The Mirror, the Bianconeri plan to use the money saved from Pogba's mammoth wage decrease on Partey, who is alleged to be growing frustrated at his playing time under Mikel Arteta.
The Ghana international pushed his injury woes to one side last term as he formed a successful midfield partnership with Granit Xhaka, helping the Gunners finish second in the Premier League after 248 days at the top of the table.
Xhaka has since departed for Bayer Leverkusen, but the signings of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz have led to increased competition in the engine room, and fitness problems have also begun to plague Partey again.
© Reuters
The former Atletico Madrid man has played just five times so far this season and has not started a Premier League game since August 26, having sustained a groin injury before the first international break of the new season.
Partey was able to play 15 minutes of his side's 1-0 win over Manchester City on October 8, but he sustained a fresh muscular problem before last week's Champions League win over Sevilla and is facing another few weeks on the sidelines.
The 30-year-old's Arsenal deal runs until June 2025, but a separate report from Tuttojuve states that he is seeking an exit route from the Emirates, and Juventus are eyeing a loan deal for the midfielder in January.
Arsenal would allegedly be after €30m (£26.1m) to let Partey leave permanently - a figure which Massimiliano Allegri's side have no intention of paying - but they could try to negotiate an option to buy for the summer of 2024.
Partey has registered five goals and four assists in 104 matches for the Gunners, who vetoed his exit in the summer amid reports of interest from Juve and teams in Saudi Arabia.
