Juventus would like to sign a centre-back in the summer and Roma's Philippe Mexes is their No 1 transfer target.

Fabio Cannavaro has come under a lot of criticism lately and is likely to retire after the World Cup this summer.

His understudy, Lorenzo Ariaudo, isn't ready to step into the captain's shoes while Martin Caceres is a jack-of-all-trades rather than an established stopper.

Tuttosport understands that Roma's tendency to sell one of their key assets every summer could play into Juventus's hands, although Claudio Ranieri is unlikely to sanction the departure of one of his regulars.

Mexes has a contract with the Giallorossi until 2011 and earns €2.4m a season. The Frenchman will either renew his existing deal or leave in the summer.

He is currently being valued at around €12m, considerably more expensive than Juventus's other targets, Leonardo Bonucci and Serdar Tasci.

http://football-italia.net/feb03g.html

hands off juvemerda but maybe we wont have a choice like we did with Mancini and Chivu

i would hate to see Mexes leave and it will really be a sad day if he plays against us.

We get linked to him every year, I don't want that shit at the club after all the crap he has pulled against us over the years

Give me Zapata instead.

Is money an issue at all? If not then I think you should be able to attract pretty much anyone to the club, a poor defence that needs improving to get Juve back winning trophies as they were doing 5 years ago...surely a great challenge for any ambitious player.

A reknowned transfer expert in Italy today said that Juve will spend another €50m in the summer, but it's pointless spending money if you don't get the right players in.

Considering all the talk earlier in the sason about him leaving, then I wouldn't be too shocked if Juve, along with several other top clubs, came in for Vidic.

It depends if he would join us, he is more likely to go to Spain as they are currently stronger and his missus is moaning about the weather, it is freezing in Turin in the winter

'Juve will spend another €50m'

One of Italy's most famous football agents believes Juventus will spend another €50m this summer after a season of disappointment.

Antonio Caliendo, whose clients include David Trezeguet, also added that he doesn't think Juventus will be cautious after spending that figure on Diego and Felipe Melo, two players who have so far failed to lived up to expectations.

Speaking to Tuttosport, Caliendo said: “There is someone who goes on TV to bad mouth the Juventus directors. The old triad who never miss a TV programme and attack the weak points, always forgetting how much good the new Juventus has done.

“For example, right now, the return of Roberto Bettega has been fundamental, for me at least. His modesty means that few people actually know that some of Juventus's most important signings of the last 15 years went through his sieve, while there were others who bought Uruguayans, paying a king's ransom without them ever playing more than a couple of games. Save for going on TV and making yourself look like a saint.

“And let's not forget Diego. He's another one who I have heard called a blunder. Let him adapt and he will not disappoint. He is the champion that everyone expected. He only has to manage to express himself better.

“Juventus are working a lot and they are working every day on the next transfer market. Secco and Bettega are involved in several interesting situations. They know when and if to intervene.”

Asked if he believed Juventus would spend another €50m like last year, Caliendo replied: “In my opinion, yes the figure could be between €40m and €50m, also because they know what their responsibilities are towards the fans. Even though they will not be bled dry for players who they don't judge to be of a good enough standard to play for Juve.

“Unfortunately today there are many teams who can spend and few champions worth spending on. It's all much more complicated,” he concluded.

-------------------------

Having a dig at Moggi, who has been criticising everything. Moggi made a few errors, but I'd have him in charge of transfers ahead of any of the current guys. I agree on Diego, you can see he is a class act, he will be excellent again once the team gets a bit of confidence and form.

He's bloody Serbian Moaning about the cold!

It'll probably break down like this for players in the summer:

Out:

Poulsen
Zebina
Almiron
Palladino (half)
Paolucci
Maybe a bigger name
A few kids, co-ownerships
Total: €18-30m

In:

Caceres (€10m)
Criscito (half, €6m)
Central defender (€12m)
Striker (€15m)
A few kids, co-ownerships

At least that is the concensus, what we really need.

do u think Barca would let Caceres go ?

We have basically already agreed a fee when he was loaned, and we are meeting to discuss it shortly, maybe this week.

good move by juve, a good signing and will be handy in the future. surprised to see Barca letting Caceres go this easily though. Puyol and Milito arent getting any younger and Chegrinski or wtv u spell it has been a flop so far.

Yeah he has been, thought he was a good defender at Shakhtar though.