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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Victor

5 Juventus players Man Utd can target after latest scandal opens up unique opportunity

As Manchester United prepare for a busy summer, the crisis engulfing Juventus could provide Erik ten Hag's side with more options.

The Italian giants are staring at a 15-point deduction, with punishments also handed out to a number of individuals involved in the 'plusvalenza' scandal. If the Bianconeri fail in their appeal against the penalty, it could leave them down in mid-table and at risk of missing out on European qualification.

Juve are already licking their wounds after an early elimination from this season's Champions League, and another season away from European football's top table could be too much for some of their players. Here, Mirror Football looks at five members of the current squad who United could be tempted to look at in the coming weeks and months.

Dusan Vlahovic

A striker will surely be high on Ten Hag's list after the November departure of Cristiano Ronaldo. Loan signing Wout Weghorst can be an able stopgap between now and the end of the season, but a bigger-ticket signing may well be the priority come the summer.

Vlahovic very nearly moved to the Premier League last January, with Arsenal attempting to sign the Serbian international from Fiorentina. He chose Juve, though, and opened his Champions League account for the club last term before continuing to score goals in Serie A this term.

With a goal or assist every 141 minutes on average this term, the 22-year-old would come with plenty of pedigree. While a pre-tournament injury limited his impact at the World Cup, he still managed to find the net once as Serbia fell at the first hurdle.

Adrien Rabiot

Which Juventus players should Man Utd sign? Have your say in the comments section

Man Utd have been linked with Adrien Rabiot in the past (AFP via Getty Images)

Certain members of Juventus' squad probably won't fancy a move to Old Trafford - looking at you, Paul Pogba and Angel Di Maria. Adrien Rabiot, however, has seemingly been close to joining the club in previous windows.

A summer switch didn't materialise in the end, with United splashing out on Casemiro. Still, there may well be room for the French international in Erik ten Hag's squad, and he will be out of contract at the end of the season and unlikely to renew if Juve's fall from Europe's elite is confirmed.

The former Paris Saint-Germain star has featured more often than anticipated this term thanks to the injury suffered by compatriot Pogba. He featured in six of France's seven World Cup games, only missing the semi-final against Morocco, and scored twice in Juve's only Champions League win this term.

Manuel Locatelli

Manuel Locatelli won Euro 2020 with Italy (Getty Images)

Another midfielder likely to be in high demand is Locatelli. The Italian international is on loan from Sassuolo, with Juve holding an obligation to buy in the summer, but a lowly league finish might prompt the likes of United to test the water.

Locatelli impressed for the Azzurri at Euro 2020, scoring twice in a group stage win against Switzerland. While he has yet to score this season, the 25-year-old has been a regular under Max Allegri as the Bianconeri recovered from a slow start to climb to second place before their points deduction.

With Donny van de Beek suffering another injury setback and Scott McTominay linked with a move away, United could well be in the market for another midfielder. However, they're unlikely to be the only ones in for Locatelli if he becomes available.

Wojciech Szczesny

(Offside via Getty Images)

If United want to bring in a player with Premier League experience, they need look no further than Szczesny. The Poland goalkeeper spent more than a decade in England, first joining Arsenal's academy in his teens, and made more than 100 Premier League appearances for the Gunners before leaving in 2017.

Current number one David de Gea is out of contract at the end of the season, and the Spaniard's future hangs in the balance. Backup Jack Butland is only on loan, while it remains to be seen what will happen with Dean Henderson when he returns from his Nottingham Forest loan.

Another long-time target, Yann Sommer, has moved to Bayern Munich and removed one of the options. If De Gea doesn't end up signing new terms, there are plenty of worse options than Szczesny.

Samuel Iling-Junior

Samuel Iling-Junior started out in Chelsea's academy (Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

United have a strong history with developing young English talents. While the majority have come through the Red Devils' own academy, Juve's predicament offers them the chance to bring in someone with a rather different career path.

19-year-old winger Iling-Junior began his career with Chelsea, joining the Blues academy when he was still at primary school. He left without making a first-team appearance, though, and has now begun to establish himself in Turin.

The teenager has been capped by England at every age-group level up to under-20, where he has shared a pitch with Premier League talents such as Carney Chukwuemeka and Samuel Edozie. He also made his Champions League debut earlier this season away to Benfica and registered a first Serie A assist when Juve beat Lecce in October.

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