Juve close Amauri gap

Juve close Amauri gap
Thursday 1 May, 2008

Just £500,000 stands between Juventus and Amauri after advanced contract negotiations yesterday.

Juve sporting director Alessio Secco met the Amauri’s agent Mariano Grimaldi in Milan yesterday hoping to make a concrete deal for the in-demand hitman.

An agreement between the two clubs involved seems imminent, but the player has thrown the move into question by flirting with Milan and Roma.

Reports suggest that Grimaldi demanded a wage of £3.25m per year plus bonuses, but the Old Lady are tabling around £2.75m before their performance incentives.

It is now expected that promising midfielder Antonio Nocerino will join Palermo in a part-exchange deal, but there are whispers that the Rosanero are also demanding Davide Lanzafame.

Dangerous hitman Lanzafame is one of calcio’s rising stars and has netted 10 times at Bari, where he is on loan.

However, he may refuse to join the Sicilians because his heart is set on a move to Genoa.

“Lanzafame has expressed a desire to play for us,” Genoa President Enrico Preziosi admitted.

“But I’m sure that with a little reasoning we can find an arrangement that suits everyone.”

*channel4