Juventus is looking at the possibility of strengthening itself with Eduard Spertsyan, it is reported Tuttosport. The Armenian, who was high on the wish list of then Ajax director of football affairs Sven Mislintat last summer, has to come from FK Krasnodar.
Spertsyan, who has made 21 appearances for Armenia so far, came through the entire youth academy of Krasnodar and made his debut in Russian football in 2018. Two years later he made his debut at the highest level in Russia.
Among other things, he became the youngest Armenian ever in the group stage of the Champions League (against Chelsea), beating fellow countryman Henrikh Mkhitaryan. So far, he has played 93 games in the main squad, in which he scored 29 times and was the starter 21 times.
These figures have not gone unnoticed by Juventus. Tuttosport writes that scouts from the Italian superpower have been following the Armenian for several weeks and will travel again to Krasnodar in the coming days to study him up close.
Another name that is still high on the wish list in Turin is Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. However, the Napoli winger has a significant price tag hanging around his neck. Spertsyan is therefore seen as a cheaper alternative to the Georgian.
Collapsed deal with Ajax
A few months ago, Ajax seemed to agree with Krasnodar on a transfer fee of 15 million euros for Spertsyan, but the Supervisory Board blocked that transfer. The people of Amsterdam did not want to contribute indirectly to the Russian regime, which is at war with Ukraine.
Although three Armenian media outlets still begged in an open letter to complete the transfer, Ajax decided against his arrival. Pier Eringa, the man who received the letter on behalf of the Supervisory Board, has now had to leave the field in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. The transfer never materialized.