Juventus target Lisandro for Celtic challenge as Hooper and Wanyama remain in spotlight

Sports writer

Thursday 24 January 2013

Juventus hope to complete the signing of Lisandro Lopez on loan from Olympique Lyon today, having agreed terms with the French club and the striker last night.

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Richard Wilson

Despite having played in the Europa League this season, Lisandro would be eligible to play against Celtic when they face the Italian side in the round of 16 later this month.

Juventus have not given up hope of also signing the Athletic Bilbao striker, Fernando Llorente, this month, although they have agreed a deal with the forward to sign in the summer when he is a free agent.

If the Italian champions were to capture both players before the end of the transfer window, only one could be registered for the Champions League, since Bilbao also competed in the Europa League this season. The news is a stark contrast to Celtic, who have rejected two Norwich City bids for Gary Hooper, but cannot be certain that the striker, who they value at £8m, and the midfielder Victor Wanyama will remain in Glasgow beyond the end of the transfer window. Both players are being closely watched by Barclays Premier League sides, with Arsenal increasingly keen on Wanyama. Herald Sport understands that it is more likely that only Lisandro will be signed by Juventus this month, with the loan fee likely to be in the region of £1.7m, with a £7.5m signing clause for the summer. Antonio Conte, the Juventus manager, is an admirer of Lisandro and has been keen to sign the striker – who has scored 54 goals in 102 appearances for Lyon – for some time. Either Fabio Quagliarella or Alessandro Matri are likely to make way by departing this month. Juventus had previously made an offer to Didier Drogba, either to sign on loan from Shanghai Shenua for six months, or as a free agent for 18 months. Sources in Italy believe that Drogba could walk away from his contract in China since he has not received all of his wages on time, and Juventus matched the offer made to the Ivory Coast striker by AC Milan of £6.7m wages across an 18-month contract. Drogba is holding out for an £8m salary, though, which Milan are considering. There was further good news for Juventus yesterday with the goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon, signing a two-year extension to his contract. "Juventus has become a way of life for me," the 34-year-old Italian international and World Cup winner said. "When something gets inside you, you can't see yourself in another shirt."

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Juventus target Lisandro for Celtic challenge as Hooper and Wanyama remain in spotlight

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