Juventus are said to be willing to offer Stephan Lichtsteiner to Real Madrid as they look to secure the signing of striker Gonzalo Higuain from the Spanish club.

The Bianconeri’s interest in the Argentinian hitman is well-known, but it is thought that they may have to offer a player as part of the deal to convince Madrid to part with Higuain, who has been becoming increasingly peripheral in Jose Mourinho’s team.

According to Tuttosport, Juve are to fly to Spain next week to try to close the deal to bring Higuain to Turin, and may be willing to part with the right-sided Swiss midfielder to sweeten the deal. Lichtsteiner himself was close to leaving for Paris St Germain last summer, and he is reported to have remained on the shopping list of Carlo Ancelotti, who is said to be taking over the reins at the Bernabeu over the summer.

Juventus have already boosted their firepower with the signature of Fernando Llorente from Bilbao, but the possibility of adding the prolific 25-year-old Higuain would make le Zebre a formidable prospect both at home and in the Champions League next season.

Lichtsteiner joined Juventus from Lazio in 2011 and has been with Juventus for two seasons, making seventy-four appearances and scoring six goals.

No way, getting rid of one of our vital players (like I've said numerous times, great full backs are so rare now which means no matter how much you get, you're gonna be weaker in that area) for a striker. There are plenty of strikers kicking around, can't say the same for full-backs and also full-backs who are so comfortable playing in a 3-5-2.