Mutu to hold talks with Juventus

Adrian Mutu, the former Chelsea striker who has been banned for seven months after failing a drugs test, is to hold talks with the Serie A leaders Juventus about a reported five-year contract worth £1.2m a year.

Mutu, sacked last month by Chelsea, has signed a deal with an Italian management company led by Alessandro Moggi, the son of Juventus' managing director, Luciano Moggi.

"Mutu will watch the match between Juventus and Fiorentina this evening," a Juventus official, who declined to be named, said yesterday. "Then he will meet some important people at the club."

A source close to Mutu said the player would first meet his agent and a lawyer to analyse the effects of the cancellation of his contract with Chelsea.

Mutu joined Chelsea from Parma for £15.8m last year and was on the verge of joining Juventus on loan in August before his positive drugs test, but Chelsea and the Turin club failed to agree terms.