Serie A champions Juventus are prepared to do business with Arsenal for Juan Cuadrado, should they match his £26.8m price tag. The Colombian joined the Bianconeri on a permanent deal from Chelsea earlier in May following two consecutive loan spells with the Turin giants.
According to Premium Sport (h/t Talk Sport), Juventus are looking to make an instant profit on Cuadrado, who cost them £17.6m from the Blues. Bianconeri chief Giuseppe Marotta previously hinted that the Colombian could be one of the names leaving the club this summer, and it is now reported that they have placed a £26.8m valuation on his services.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has held a keen interest since his time at former club Fiorentina, and he is being seen as a potential competitor for the right wing-back spot with the likes of Carl Jenkinson and Mathieu Debuchy tipped to depart the Emirates.
Hector Bellerin and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain shared the duties in the tail-end of the previous campaign, but the latter’s future remains a discussion point as he is reluctant to prolong his stay.
Oxlade-Chamberlain enjoyed his best season with the Gunners last term, with six goals and 11 assists, but the need to progress further in his career has held him from extending his contract beyond June 2018.
Cuadrado was initially seen as a winger in his early career, but his time at Juventus has seen him adapt to the right wing-back spot, where he played second fiddle to Dani Alves last term.
Though Dani Alves has gone, Cuadrado is still not guaranteed a regular place in the starting lineup with summer recruit Mattia de Sciglio and the experienced Stephan Lichtsteiner present to provide competition.
Serie A outfit Inter Milan have also been credited with an interest in Cuadrado, and the next coming of days will give a clear indication on whether the Gunners are indeed planning an approach.
Arsenal are said to have scouted Cuadrado on several occasions last season, and this has invited speculation over his potential return to the Premier League, where he could not find his feet with Chelsea.
