Juventus linked with shock move for Scottish Pogba replacement

Stuart Telford

• 12 Nov 2022 15:01 GMT
• 3 min read

No Scot has played in Turin since Denis Law's single season with Torino back in 1961/62, but that could be about to change with Juventus ready to go shopping in January…

There have never been more Scots plying their trade in Italy at the same time as now, though, with Jack Hendry, Lewis Ferguson, Josh Doig and Liam Henderson all playing in Serie A this season, and one of their number - Ferguson - has attracted Juve's interest.

"Ferguson has become increasingly influential in Italy and nailed down a first-team spot with new [Bologna] manager Thiago Motta," write the Scottish Sun. "Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri has reportedly been impressed with the Scotland international's displays and is considering a move."

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Ferguson - who is former Scotland international Barry's nephew - joined Bologna from Aberdeen in a €3.4 million deal in July, and has wasted little time adapting to the Italian top flight, averaging one each of tackles, interceptions and clearance whilst also chipping in with two goals.

Juventus are fourth in the Serie A table after 14 games played, but the Old Lady are some 13 points off Napoli's league-setting pace and Allegri is coming under increasing pressure, with the club giving him the dreaded public backing recently.

Manuel Locatelli has struggled to recreate the form that earned him the move and got him into the Italy squad, while Weston McKennie and Adrien Rabiot have both been linked with Premier League moves of late. Paul Pogba, who returned on a free transfer from Manchester United this summer, is yet to play after injuring his knee.

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Aberdeen windfall

Ferguson is currently rated at €3m by Football Transfers in-house algorithm, but Bologna are reportedly demanding €10.2m for their midfielder, who has four caps for his country, so soon after signing him.

Aberdeen didn't make the transfer fee public, but the Scottish side have a recent history of inserting sell-on clauses, meaning that they could be in line for a similar amount of money they received when first selling Ferguson.