Diego Poised to Join Wolfsburg
Juventus are said to be ready to accept VfL Wolfsburg's €16 million bid for midfielder Diego in a deal that will strengthen the German side's attack.
Wolfsburg's new manager Steve McClaren is looking for a playmaker to replace Zvjezdan Misimovic, who is rumoured to be leaving the club in the current transfer window.
The English manager has his eyes set on Diego, and Sky Sport Italia have reported that Juventus are due to accept the German club's bid for the player.
Diego only joined Juventus last summer, when the club signed him from Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for €25.5m.
Diego's Ups and Downs
Despite being considered Bremen's best player on his departure, Diego had a largely disappointing first season with the Italians, scoring only five goals in 33 league appearances.
While at Bremen, however, Diego displayed the kind of attacking creativity and eye for goal the McClaren is after.
At the end of the 2008/2009 season, he assisted Mesut Ozil's winning goal in the DFB Cup final. He also led the team to reach the UEFA Cup final by scoring six goals in the knock-out round.
With Diego suspended for the final, Bremen lost the game 2–1 to Ukranian club Shakhtar Donetsk.
Options for McClaren
If the deal is completed, McClaren will have broadened his attacking options.
He would likely play Diego in an offensive midfield position, but would also have the option of playing him as a withdrawn striker, behind Mario Mandzukic or Grafite.
In his first season in charge, McClaren will be under pressure to deliver results for the club, which has enjoyed unprecedented successes since the 2007/2008 season.
In that season Wolfsburg finished fifth in the Bundesliga, its highest league finish to date. The following year, the club won its first league title, only to finish eighth in 2010 after a disappointing display.
McClaren will now be expected to improve performance significantly. Signing Diego may be the first step towards doing so.
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