Juventus Not Giving Up On Chelsea's Alex - Report

The Turin giants consider the Brazilian centre-back as the perfect addition to their defensive line-up and are also keeping tabs on Independiente's Leonel Galeano

Juventus are not giving up on Chelsea defender Alex and the Brazil international is still the top candidate to strengthen their back-line, Tuttosport reports.

The Turin side are eager to add another centre-back to their squad ahead of the start of the Serie A campaign and they've long been linked with the 29-year-old.

However, they face an uphill task in luring the former PSV ace away from London as manager Andre Villas-Boas is eager to hold on to his man.

The defender was part of the starting XI in Chelsea's scoreless draw against Stoke City at the weekend and the Blues seem to have no intention of cashing in on the centre-back, who has a contract with the Premier League side until 2013.

Although Juventus haven't given up hope of signing Alex just yet, they are already looking at alternatives, too.

The Turin side could turn their attention to Independiente youngster Leonel Galeano if a move for Alex turns out to be impossible as they consider the 20-year-old to be an ideal long-term solution.

Galeano, who was part of the Argentina squad that got eliminated in the quarter-finals at the Under-20 World Cup last weekend, has developed into a key player at Independiente since making his official debut in August 2009 and is seen as one of the best young defenders around in South America.