Nemanja Matic subject of £17million Juventus bid as Italians return with firm offer

CHELSEA midfielder Nemanja Matic is still wanted by Juventus.

The Italian giants, snubbed when they made an intitial approach earlier this year, are ready to offer £17million for the Serbian international.

Matic will also be handed a deal worth £4.2m a year.

But insiders say the player is hanging on to the hope that ex-Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will take him at Manchester United.

United continue to pursue their former midfielder Paul Pogba and Matic believes he may be their back-up option.

And, given that French ace Pogba plays for Juventus, he could alternatively fit in there.

Chelsea have not given up on keeping Matic themselves as new manager Antonio Conte is a fan.  And they won’t look too kindly at £17m, considering him to be worth more.

Teammate Oscar is another transfer option for Juventus and for Zenit St Petersburg.

Chelsea, meanwhile,  are still keen on former Juventus striker Alvaro Morata, who has returned to Real Madrid after they activated the £23m buy-back clause they insisted on  when he left the Bernabeu.

But it seems he could leave Real immediately with Chelsea proposing a season-long loan with an option to buy.

Morata wants an improvement on his current £65,000-per-week wages.

His agent Juanma Lopez will meet with Madrid officials this week.