Milan - Striker Vincenzo Iaquinta and midfielder Sergio Almiron are due this week to sign contracts with powerhouse Juventus, La Gazzetta dello Sport reported Tuesday. The Italian world champion Iaquinta, 27, joins the Turin side after seven seasons at Udinese, whose owner Gianpaolo Pozzo was quoted as saying: "Iaquinta should go to Juve. I think he has already signed. There is a deal between the two clubs. It is not official, but (Juve) and the player are to reach an agreement."
It appears that the Udine side will cash in 8 million euros (10.5 million dollars) from Juve, plus the co-ownership of young striker Michele Paolucci, who played the past season on loan to Ascoli.
Juve are to pay the same amount for Almiron, a 26-year-old Argentinian, but are likely to lower the fee including young midfielder Matteo Paro in the transfer deal.
Almiron played a convincing season with Empoli, helping them secure their first-ever berth for the UEFA Cup. The Argentinian arrived in Italy in 2001, playing two seasons at Udinese and one in Verona before transferring to Empoli in 2004.
Juve are beefing up their line-up for the return in the top flight after one Serie B season they were sentenced to in a match-fixing trial last summer.
They have already hired coach Claudio Ranieri after the sudden departure of Didier Deschamps and hope to retain French striker David Trezeguet and midfielder Mauro Camoranesi, who both expect a more lucrative contract after having accepted to play Juve's first-ever Serie B season.
