Juventus bring in Peluso from Atalanta

Juventus have signed Italian international defender Federico Peluso on loan from Atalanta BC with an option to make the deal permanent next summer.

Peluso, 28, has made 13 Serie A appearances for Atalanta this season, including the 3-0 defeat by the Bianconeri in the middle of last month. The left-back could find an immediate void to fill at Juventus, with Giorgio Chiellini out because of a calf injury and Kwadwo Asamoah absent on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Ghana. Peluso has three Italy caps to his name, marking the most recent of those with a maiden international goal in the Azzurri's 2-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying victory against Malta.

Juventus, looking to retain their Serie A crown, are eight points clear of ACF Fiorentina at the summit. They also topped UEFA Champions League Group E and will face Celtic FC in the round of 16, with the first leg in Glasgow on 12 February.