Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey is attracting interest from Juventus ahead of the January transfer window, but the Italian side are expected to push ahead with a move for Kalvin Phillips instead.
Partey has been on Juve's radar since the summer, but there are concerns he will not be fully fit by January after undergoing a minor procedure on his thigh earlier this month.
The 30-year-old sustained the injury during training in October and is expected to be out until the new year.
The news is a blow to Arsenal, who may now dip into the transfer market to bolster midfield options.
The Gunners will be light on midfielders then due to the Africa Cup of Nations, which both Mohamed Elneny and Partey will hope to be a part of.
Arsenal are also interested in adding a new attacker, but it is unlikely they would have the funds to sign one as well as a midfielder.
Juventus want to sign a midfielder themselves and are fans of Partey. However, it is expected they will pursue Phillips instead.
The England midfielder is yet to start a Premier League game for Manchester City this season.
Clubs are tracking Phillips going into the January window in the hope he is open to leaving City in search of more playing minutes ahead of Euro 2024 next summer.
Juventus sporting director Cristiano Giuntoli has been in the UK this week working on transfer targets, as the club want to get their business done early in January. Tottenham's Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, who is not a regular starter under new boss Ange Postecoglou, is another possible target.
Atletico Madrid, Juventus and Fulham were all tracking Hojbjerg in the summer, but he stayed put.
