Parma are slated to be one of the most active clubs in the January window and, after closing the deal with Milan for Andrea Conti, they are chasing after Mehdi Benatia and Jean-Clair Todibo to reinforce the defense and Franco Vazquez for the midfield, Sky Sport reports.
While the fullback will join on an initial season-long loan with €7M obligation to buy and will ink a four-and-a-half year contract, Al-Duhail is putting up some resistance in order to keep Benatia because of they will partecipate to the Club World Cup.
Given the problems, the Ducali have inquired about other options, such as the 21-year-old Barcelona center-back, who is currently on loan at Benfica. Saint-Etienne and Nice are also in the running, but Todibo would like a move to Serie A after almost joining Milan in the past. If their attempt was unsuccessful, the Gialloblù could turn to one of Roma’s outcasts in such role, Federico Fazio or Juan Jesus, or to Mateo Musacchio, who is on his way out as well and has been linked to multiple minnows.
For the midfield, instead, they have zeroed in on Franco Vazquez, a name that was strongly suggested by Fabio Liverani but that might arrive anyway despite the coaching change, especially because Jasmin Kurtic is being heavily courted by Torino and could depart. The former Palermo attacker has seen limited minutes so far this season and would head back to Serie A after four and a half seasons at Sevilla.