Juventus F.C. chief executive officer Beppe Marotta has played down reports linking the Italian Serie A champions with a summer swoop for free agent striker Didier Drogba.
Drogba, who left Galatasaray at the end of the 2013/14 campaign, will not be short of potential suitors despite his age, 36, when the transfer window re-opens in July.
In fact, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly keen on bringing the Côte d’Ivoire international to Stamford Bridge as a short-term replacement for Samuel Eto’o.
Earlier this week, Juventus were made the odds-on favourites to win Drogba’s signature but Marotta has refused to confirm the club’s interest in the Ivorian hitman.
“Drogba is a free agent and we have been offered him,” Marotta said.
“But we have not taken him into consideration.”
Drogba, who is priced at 1/8 to sign for Juve this summer, bagged 14 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions for Galatasaray last term.
Russell Martin expects clubs to come in for Robert Snodgrass
Norwich City captain Russell Martin is expecting the club’s officials to receive multiple offers for highly-rated Scottish winger Robert Snodgrass.
Snodgrass, 26, joined Norwich from Leeds United for an undisclosed fee in July 2012 and has since established himself as one of the most consistent wide players in the English Premier League.
The 26-year-old, who is reportedly attracting interest from Celtic and Hull City, has tallied 12 goals and eight assists in 67 career Premier League appearances, including 64 starts.
“I’m sure there will be Premier League clubs who want some of our players,” Martin told EDP24, per Sky Sports. “Some of them have shown they can do a job at that level for the past two or three years.
“If that happens, which it will and it will also happen at the other relegated clubs, then it is up to the board to do what is best.
“In terms of Snoddy, [Snodgrass] I would be surprised if no-one came in for him.
“John [Ruddy] signed a massive new deal earlier this season and I know both are happy here but it depends on what other Premier League clubs and managers want to do and how much they want them and what this club decides it wants to do.
“There will be lads who perhaps feel they don’t want to play in the Championship or who deserve to stay in the Premier League but that is up to someone else to decide.”
The Canaries are priced at 3/1 to win promotion to the Premier League next season.
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