Torino trying to hijack Marseille deal with Ivan Ilić | OneFootball

Torino are trying to hijack Marseille’s efforts to sign Hellas Verona midfielder Ivan Ilić (21), according to a report from Sky Italia.

The outlet reports that the eighth-placed Serie A side have offered Verona €14m for their Serbian prospect. Torino’s proposal is lower than Marseille’s offer worth €16m plus €3m bonuses. Ilić, who represented his country at the World Cup, is under contract with the Veneto side until 2026.

The player is reportedly happy and settled in Italy and the decision on his future club will be his only. Torino might have the upper hand due to Croatian manager Ivan Jurić’s presence at the club. The former international midfielder gave Ilić his first minutes in Serie A when he was still a Manchester City loanee in 2020.

Jurić was then dismissed and replaced as Hellas Verona coach by none other than current OM boss Igor Tudor. Like Jurić, Tudor wants to reunite with Ilić after having worked with him last season.

Les Phocéens are looking to reinforce this winter, having already brought in Ukrainian international midfielder Ruslan Malinovskyi from Atalanta and missed out on the signing of Brighton wantaway Leandro Trossard, with Arsenal pipping them to the Belgian international.

GFFN | Bastien Cheval