Jazira swoop for Juve midfielder

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  • In demand: Hernanes.

    Al Jazira have entered initial negotiations to snap up Juventus’ Hernanes as they hunt a new centre midfielder, according to Mediaset Premium Sport. Pride of Abu Dhabi boss Henk ten Cate confirmed last week that his side remain open to changing their four-player foreign quota.

    This desire has seen the 61-year-old target an all-rounder in the ‘No8’ role. Brazil international Hernanes is now a contender to fill the vacancy.

    Italian broadcaster Mediaset revealed the 31-year-old is surplus to requirements at the perennial Serie A champions, with a formal offer imminent to join the Arabian Gulf League. Hernanes has scored just once during 23 games in all competitions after an August 2015 move from Internazionale.

    Jazira and Juve have conducted business before, with Mirko Vucinic heading to the UAE in July 2014. If this fresh pursuit is successfully concluded, the Montengro striker’s position in the non-Emirati contingent could become vulnerable. Conficting reports have come out about his fitness after a long-term knee injury.

    The player – who plundered an incredible 27 top-flight goals in 29 games prior to tearing cruciate ligaments last November – contradictively said on Friday he expects to be fit for September 13’s Arabian Gulf Super Cup in Cairo, while Ten Cate last week stated he “could still be out for a few months”.

    Jefferson Farfan had been told he was surplus to requirements, but superb displays during pre-season could hand the Peru forward a second chance after his debut 2015/16 campaign also ended last November because of a serious ankle problem.

    Asian-qualified South Korea midfielder Park Jong-woo isn’t guaranteed to stay either, with only recent addition and Morocco playmaker Mbark Boussoufa locked in. Jazira were beaten by Burnley to Belgium midfielder Steven Defour, with interest also reported in Standard Liege’s Adrien Trebel.

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