Roberto Mancini in pole position for the Juventus job after starting talks with the struggling Serie A side as Thiago Motta fights for his future

Juventus' wait to restore their supremacy in Italian football has continued under head coach Motta, who arrived from Bologna last summer. His future in Turin now faces uncertainty, with a report from Tuttosport (h/t Calciomercato) claiming that talks with Roberto Mancini to make him the new head coach ahead of next season have reached an advanced stage.

Motta hasn't enjoyed a successful debut campaign as head coach at the Allianz Stadium. Juventus were knocked out by PSV in the pre-round of 16 Champions League play-offs, while they have struggled to match the level of teams like Inter, Napoli, and Atalanta in Serie A. The Bianconeri are currently in fourth position in the table. A few more disappointing results and they would be under severe risk of missing out on the top four and therefore a place in next season's Champions League.

Per the report from Tuttosport, Juve are in advanced talks with Mancini, who just ended his stint as the manager of the Saudi Arabia national team. The report also named Atalanta's Gian Piero Gasperini as another candidate rumoured to be linked with the role, although direct contacts are yet to be established. As things stand, Gasperini is closer to joining Roma, where he would succeed Claudio Ranieri.

Juventus will face Fiorentina on Sunday as they aim to strengthen their bid to finish in the top four. They are currently nine points behind league leaders Inter.