Juventus are to reward defender Andrea Barzagli for his recent purple patch with a contract extension that could see the veteran Italy international end his career with the Turin giants.

His return to the fray following injury at the New Year has given Juve a huge boost at the back and the 34-year-old is now set to sign a deal that will keep him in Turin until 2018, say reports.

His return to top form has coincided with goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon keeping a clean sheet for eight consecutive games.

Barzagli's contract was due to expire in June but Gazzetta dello Sport claims he is on the verge of signing a two-year deal that could see him end his career at the club.

Barzagli joined Juve in 2011 following a three-year spell with Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga and, along with fellow defenders Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci, has been the backbone of Serie A's tightest defence over four consecutive, title-winning campaigns.

Buffon last conceded in a 2-1 win away to Sampdoria in January when Antonio Cassano beat the Italian 'keeper in the 64th minute.

Since then, Buffon has gone 746 minutes in the league without conceding, a personal best that has seen the Italy great edge even closer to the all-time record of 929 minutes held by retired AC Milan 'keeper Sebastiano Rossi.

Juventus hold a three-point lead over Napoli at the top of Serie A and will take a 3-0 first-leg lead to Inter Milan in the second leg of their Italian Cup semi-final on Wednesday.