Juventus chase Man United and Liverpool hotshots in firepower pursuit
Published:As one of the clubs most keen to tempt Luis Suarez away from Liverpool this summer, Juventus have identified another Premier League striker as a potential summer addition if they fail to land the Uruguayan.
Manchester United’s Javier Hernandez is the player in question, in the aftermath of the Mexican growing frustrated with a lack of regular first-team opportunities this season.
Both United and Liverpool would be reluctant to let either player leave, but certainly in the Anfield outfit’s case, the decision may be left out of the club’s hands.
Indeed, Suarez has admitted that he would seriously consider a close-season switch to a Champions League club, with Bayern Munich set to contend against the Old Lady for his signature.
But if the Serie A leaders don’t manage to prize the Premier League’s 22-goal top scorer away from Merseyside, Hernandez has emerged as a more than viable option for Antonio Conte.
The 24-year-old would cost significantly less than the £40m Juve would have to fork out for Suarez, despite remaining an important part of Sir Alex Ferguson’s plans.
And it is unlikely that Ferguson would stand in the player’s way, should he be guaranteed more regular first-team action in Italy.
Indeed, the Old Trafford boss could turn a tidy profit on Hernandez, with the natural finisher expected to cost around £20m, roughly £14m more than United paid Chivas three years ago.
Juve chief Conte would be willing to pay such a fee, in the belief that an explosive striker in the form of ‘Chicharito’ would be the perfect foil for impending summer arrival Fernando Llorente.
Long linked with a move to England, Llorente will join the Old Lady on a free transfer from Athletic Bilbao, and bring an immense physical presence to their frontline.
The prospect of teaming the Spanish international with the lethal Hernandez is a mouth-watering one, which Conte will become more determined to make a reality should he fail to tie up a deal for Suarez.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
