Wolves’ may have failed to bring Habib Diarra to the Premier League but their £21 million bid could ki-bosh Juventus’ hopes of signing the Strasbourg midfielder too.
In the final 24 hours of the summer window, Strasbourg president Marc Keller admitted that he had rejected a 25 million euro bid for one of the biggest young talents in French football.
“I can confirm that we have received an official offer from Wolverhampton Wanderers for Habib Diarra. I politely refused it. Habib will not leave,” Keller told Dernieres Nouvelles d’Alsace.
“I have said it from the start; our strategy is to build a competitive squad and plan for the future. Habib is a boy trained in the Racing Mutest Academy. He knows that he is one of the players we count on.”
Wolves, at least, could take Juventus with them.
MORE WOLVES STORIES
Wolves miss out on Habib Diarra but so could Juventus
As reporter Marco Conteiro explains to Rai Play, the Serie A giants are also big fans of the all-action 19-year-old. But, without the benefits of European football, Juve may struggle to even rival Wolves’ bid, yet alone make one that tempts Strasbourg into a sale.
“Are Juventus close to Diarra ? No, not close,” Conteiro explains. “He is one of the names they are following.
“But there’s a problem. There’s a problem given that Juventus are without the Champions League this season. Strasbourg refused 25 million euros from Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“These are big numbers for the Bianconeri.”
Potential Paul Pogba replacement
Juventus were always likely to prioritise a young, athletic central midfielder this summer, and their determination to bring one in will only be exacerbated if Paul Pogba is served with a lengthy doping ban (Sky Sports).
Wolves, meanwhile, offset the disappointment of failing to lure Diarra away from Strasbourg by snapping up his partner on deadline day; one of Europe’s most in-form midfielders arriving at Molineux in the shape of Jean-Ricner Bellegarde.