Juventus have now joined Newcastle in the race to sign fantastic player

According to Rudy Galetti, a journalist, Juventus is tracking Boca Juniors’ Valentin Barco after Newcastle United dispatched scouts to watch the defender.

Newcastle previously expressed interest in the full-back in September, though it is unclear whether they were willing to make a January bid. Rudy Galetti now claims that Juventus are interested in signing Barco, with Inter Milan also interested, so Newcastle will have stiff competition.

 

Barco available for just £8m

Since making his debut for Boca Juniors in 2021, the defender has impressed in 33 appearances.

Barco has usually played as a left-back for the South American club, but his versatility to go farther forward down the left might be very valuable to those tracking him.

The Argentine club is presently attempting to negotiate a new contract with their top prospect, whose current contract expires in December 2024 and has a release clause of only £8 million, attracting interest from a number of major European clubs.

Galetti noted in his tweet that there are still many teams interested in his signature and that Boca is doing everything possible to secure a new contract.

Boca Juniors will, of course, want to keep Barco for the long term, but if the time comes to sell him, they will also want to maximize their revenues from clubs like Juventus and Newcastle, which they can only do if he agrees to a new contract.

How Barco would fit into Newcastle’s team

Newcastle have been looking for a more forward-thinking full-back to replace Dan Burn and match Kieran Trippier’s offensive performance on the opposite flank.

Lewis Hall was signed on loan with a purchase option in the summer with the intention of becoming that attacking full-back.

But it doesn’t mean Newcastle can’t still hunt for a replacement. After all, Dan Burn is 31 years old, and Newcastle cannot rely entirely on Hall to play down the left in the future, so why not bring in further competition for that position while the price is right?

As previously stated, Barco’s adaptability would be highly useful, and he could assist in attack if needed.

If he does not renew his contract next year, the Argentine will have his pick of teams, but Newcastle will be trying to make the most appealing offer.