Juventus are keen to sign Alberto Aquilani after Liverpool
manager Roy Hodgson cleared the £20million flop to leave Anfield on
a loan deal.
However, the Serie A giants could try to tempt the Reds with a
permanent transfer, offering Brazil midfielder Felipe Melo in
exchange.
Hodgson signed Denmark international Christian Poulsen from Juve
as a ready-made replacement for wantaway Argentina captain Javier
Mascherano.
In the stands: Alberto Aquilani (right) was left
out of Liverpool's Europa League qualifying tie against Trabzonspor
at Anfield on Thursday night
But the Italians believe there is still interest from Anfield in
one-time Arsenal target Melo, according to Italian newspaper
Corriere dello Sport.
Hodgson left Aquilani out of Liverpool's 1-0 Europa League win
against Trabzonspor on Wednesday night to stop him being cup-tied
and admitted a return to Italy was on the cards.
Who wants me? Roy Hodgson has sanctioned a loan
move away from Anfield for midfielder Aquilani
'We are considering possibly loaning him to an Italian club, but
nothing is sure about that yet so I don't have anything definite to
report,' said the boss after the play-off round first leg.
'I didn't want to use him (against Trabzonspor) just in case the
loan goes through, because for Aquilani this year it's very
important that he plays regular football, every week, as the No 1
man on the teamsheet.
'I can't promise him that here so if a loan move to Italy could
help him in that respect it might be good for all parties.
'It would certainly be what he needs, it would certainly protect
the value of the player and when he does return to Liverpool no
doubt we will see the Aquilani that we signed before he came here
injured last year.'
Aquilani was signed from Roma last summer as the replacement for
Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid, but the Italy midfielder
never managed a regular run in the team because of injuries.
