Juventus have given up on signing West Ham midfielder Javier Mascherano.

Juve coach Didier Deschamps has admitted he would like to add the Argentinian star to his squad as the fallen giants look to return to the top flight of Italian football after being relegated for match-fixing.

But Juve sporting director Alessio Secco told an Italian newspaper that the deal was too complicated, apparently due to the fact Mascherano is owned by investment group MSI.

Secco told La Stampa: "That [Mascherano deal] will not be possible. We have pursued this until the day the market opened, but we have had to renounce because of the complicated contract situation."

Mascherano, along with compatriot Carlos Tevez, has failed to settle at West Ham and has been linked with a host of clubs, including Liverpool.

Secco also revealed that Juve would not be making many moves in the transfer window with 'The Old Lady' sitting just a point off the top of Serie B.

"We have the idea of loaning [Tomas] Guzman and perhaps [Paolo] De Ceglie - but other than that nothing will happen," he said.

David Trezeguet will be given time to decide over a new contract but Gianluigi Buffon, Mauro Camoranesi and Alessandro Del Piero are ready to sign new deals regardless of whether Juve are promoted or not.

Secco said "With David we are already speaking, but he wants to see what Juve will be next season.  We may need to give him more time than others, but we will offer all a contract extension."

"For them [Buffon and Camoranesi] they have enough optimism to sit and speak now," Secco continued.

"I believe Buffon has already accepted that he will respect his current contract which expires in 2011 and also the same with Camoranesi.

"Alex was the first one to accept us in Serie B and therefore we recognise that part but we will look at the issue of the future with him."  Agencies