Juventus boss Massimiliano Allegri has confirmed that the club are trying to sign the trequartista he so desperately craves.
While Carlos Tevez has departed for Boca Juniors and Arturo Vidal is bound for Bayern Munich, the Bianconeri have strengthened their attack this summer with the additions of Mario Mandzukic, Paulo Dybala and Simone Zaza.
However, Allegri has spoken openly about his desire for a classic No.10 and the Italian champions have agreed personal terms with Schalke starlet Julian Draxler over a move to Turin.
The Bianconeri boss refused to be drawn on the proposed deal for the Germany international but did admit that a playmaker will arrive before the close of the transfer window on August 31.
"We need someone we can play between the lines [of the attack]," Allegri told Sky Sport Italia. "The club are working on this.
"Right now we have to work with the squad that we have available to us.
"The club has worked very well this summer and now we're thinking only about our conditioning.
"But other players will arrive. The market is long."
Allegri was speaking after watching his side suffer a 2-0 defeat in Saturday's friendly clash with Borussia Dortmund.
The former AC Milan coach had no complaints about the result but was keen to point out that BVB are further along in their pre-season preparations given that the Bundesliga gets under way before Serie A.
"We lacked fitness today," Allegri said. "I would say, however, that today was good practice for us irrespective of the result.
"Borussia have different fitness levels to ours and the most important thing is that nobody got injured, particularly as our big goal is to be ready for the Supercoppa Italiana on August 8."
Dybala started for Juve following his summer switch from Palermo and the Argentine attacker impressed sporadically alongside Alvaro Morata and Mandzukic.
"He's a kid who has great quality," Allegri added. "His level dipped the longer the game went on but he did as well as Morata.
"As for Mandzukic, he wasn't served well."
Another recent arrival, Sami Khedira, missed the game through injury but Allegri was quick to play down any fears over the German's fitness.
"He came here with enthusiasm and he's working well but today I didn't want to risk him," he added.
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