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Juventus blow as Mascherano agrees new Barcelona contract: Man United close in on Pogba
JUVENTUS have missed out on signing Javier Mascherano as a replacement for Paul Pogba after the Argentina international signed a new deal at Barcelona, according to reports.
Javier Mascherano (left) was tipped to replace Manchester United-bound Paul Pogba
Mascherano, 32, was reportedly earmarked as a candidate to take up Pogba's position once the Frenchman completes his proposed switch to Manchester United.
Pogba, 23, is supposedly set to join the Old Trafford club, with talks between United and Juve ongoing.
But Juve have suffered an early blow in manager Massimiliano Allegri's search for a replacement midfielder.
But it is his midfield abilities that appeared to catch Allegri's eye.
According to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport, Allegri is determined to land a midfielder but the pursuit is proving difficult.
He has already missed out on Leicester's N'Golo Kante, who joined Chelsea earlier this summer.
Chelsea ace Nemanja Matic and Moussa Sissoko of Newcastle have also been linked with the club.
Paul Pogba - Amazing Goal( Fan Camera).mp4
However, Blues boss Antonio Conte has already said he is unwilling to sell Matic, while Newcastle's £35m demands for Sissoko have supposedly put Juve off.
As for United, progress is being made on the Pogba deal despite Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane yesterday claiming he is still interested in securing a deal.
Pogba left United on a free transfer to join Juve in 2012 and his agent Mino Raiola has been working on a deal to bring the France international back to Old Trafford.
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