Juventus Want Magpies' Player On A Free Transfer

By Matthew Jones
January 5 2005

It is understood that Juventus will approach Newcastle United’s French defender Olivier Bernard within the next week, with a view to tying him down to a pre-contract - before taking him for free in the summer.

There have been many rumours likning Bernard with a move to the Italian club, but the latest reports are now saying that the player will leave for free. It was origonally thoughts that Newcastle would try and raise a bit of cash in January.

Juventus director general Luciano Moggi has other ideas and will wait until he can have the player for free.

Middlesbrough and Everton have both been mentioned as competition for Juventus, but the Italian press maintain that Moggi is quietly confident of getting his man.

With Babayaro coming in at left-back for Newcastle, is there any need to keep Bernard? Many fans will argue that he SHOULD be kept - but we will just have to wait and see.