Juventus are reported to be hunting for buyers for midfielders Douglas Luiz and Nicolo Fagioli as they seek to raise money to reinvest in other parts of the squad in January.

Juve have been hit hard by defenders Bremer and Juan Cabal both suffering anterior cruciate ligament tears in recent weeks. Striker Arkadiusz Milik is also yet to play this season following two surgeries on a meniscus issue in his left knee, but may return to action in the coming weeks.

The Serie A giants could target two new defenders in the upcoming winter transfer window, or a defender and a striker if Milik does not recover as quickly as hoped.

Juve have been in England this week for a Champions League clash with Aston Villa, resulting in a 0-0 draw at Villa Park on Wednesday, but senior executive Cristiano Giuntoli is said to have travelled from Italy a few days earlier and used the trip to drum up potential business.

La Gazzetta dello Sport writes that Giuntoli, whose official title is managing director of football, was in Manchester on Sunday to meet with United and City. Possible sales of Luiz and/or Fagioli are said to have been on the agenda as he “sniffs out opportunities to make money”.

There is no indication of whether his proposals were met with reciprocated interest.

Juve are said to be pricing home-grown midfielder Fagioli at €20m-25m (£16.6m-£20.8m). The 23-year-old has been a first-team player since returning from a loan at Cremonese in 2022, although he missed most of last season while serving a seven-month suspension for betting offences.

There is no clear valuation on Luiz, only that Juve would require a “satisfactory offer” for a player they signed for €50m (£41.6m) just five months ago. The Brazil international was a huge part of Aston Villa’s success last season but had started only two Serie A games prior to being ruled out with muscle fatigue in late October. He was initially brought to Europe by Manchester City in 2017 but never made an appearance for the club before being sold on for a profit two years later.

Coming in, Juve are linked with Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Milan Skriniar, formerly of Inter prior to a free transfer in 2023, as well as Benfica’s Antonio Silva. If a new forward does prove necessary, Thiago Motta is said to admire Manchester United’s Joshua Zirkzee, having worked with the Dutchman successfully at Bologna. But any approach would be a “complicated path”.

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