Italian media are reporting that Juventus director of football Cristiano Giuntoli will be present in Rome this evening to scout Leicester City defender Wout Faes whilst on international duty.
Ever since his £15m arrival from Reims now more than two years ago, the 26-year-old has established himself as an integral cog in the Leicester machine. That is why news of attraction from Europe’s elite won’t come as a surprise, but will be a cause for concern is the fact the latest interest is coming from the very top, plus the situation is entirely out of the club’s hands.
As per La Gazzetta dello Sport via Football Italia, the key figure of Juventus’ football operations, Giuntoli, will be in personal attendance for Italy’s Nations League meeting with Belgium on Thursday. He is believed to be there to keep tabs on Faes as a defensive transfer target plus three other team-mates – Lois Openda of RB Leipzig, Dodi Lukebakio of Sevilla and Zeno Debast of Sporting CP.
It is said to be the Old Lady’s intention to sign a new central defender during the January transfer window now that Gleison Bremer has suffered an ACL injury that has required surgery. The Brazilian will therefore be sidelined for a considerable time.
Paris Saint-Germain’s Milan Skriniar is also listed as on their radar, but at least for the time being whilst nothing is confirmed the Foxes are going to need to be wary of this interest.
By the time the next transfer window rolls around, Faes will have two-and-a-half years remaining on the contract he signed when he moved from France to the East Midlands. Under new boss Steve Cooper he was reported to have ended the summer transfer window ‘unhappy’ over the left-sided central defensive position he was being utilised in.
Despite that suggestion he would seek a solution elsewhere before the deadline, he remained at the King Power Stadium, has been switched back to his favoured right side and appeared in all seven Premier League outings to date.
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