The transfer window re-opens on 2nd January, giving Roma the chance to bolster their squad if required ahead of the second half of the season.
With positive progress having been made in Serie A and the Europa League, Paulo Fonseca and Gianluca Petrachi won’t be looking to change much – even with the imminent change in ownership, as Dan Friedkin nears a takeover from James Pallotta.
Perhaps the most important piece of business for Roma to conclude relates to someone already at the club – Chris Smalling. The English defender has been simply outstanding in the first few months of his loan from Manchester United, but no option to buy was included when the deal was arranged in September.
Therefore, Petrachi is said to be working hard on negotiating a permanent purchase from Man Utd as soon as possible. The Red Devils want €20m for the 30-year-old, who already cost Roma €3m in a loan fee, while the latest claims from Gazzetta Dello Sport suggest that Petrachi has now made an offer of €15m plus €3m in bonuses. Optimism is growing that a deal can be done – and surely it would be in the best interests of all parties.
That isn’t the only negotiation that could be taking place between the two clubs, however. Fonseca has confirmed to Gazzetta that Roma will only be able to sign players if they make some sales first. And according to LaRoma24, Man Utd have their eyes on one Roma star in Cengiz Under.
The Turkish international has fallen to the fringes this season due to injury problems and the form of Nicolo Zaniolo. It is claimed that he could be sold for around €40m, with the Old Trafford club showing an interest.
In terms of a potential replacement, Gazzetta point to a former academy product: Matteo Politano. The winger has struggled to fit into Antonio Conte’s system at Inter Milan, but it is believed he would fit in well with Fonseca’s tactics. Therefore, Roma could look to bring back the 26-year-old, who never made a senior appearance for them after four years in the academy of his hometown club.
Staying in the attacking line, there are rumours that Nikola Kalinic’s loan from Atletico Madrid could be cut short, despite the player wanting to stay. The striker has, like Under, been hampered by injuries, so Petrachi may bid for a more reliable backup for Edin Dzeko.
Gazzetta claim that Dries Mertens is a target. The Belgian striker is a few goals shy of becoming Napoli’s all-time leading scorer, but is out of contract at the end of the season and could move on in January.
Alternatively, Nicolo Schira suggests that Roma are weighing up an offer for Krzysztof Piatek, who may have fewer first team chances at AC Milan following their signing of Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Sondaggio della #Roma per Krzysztof #Piątek. Il polacco punta a giocarsi le sue carte al #Milan, ma se dovesse partire l'opzione giallorossa sarebbe gradita a differenza delle ipotesi Genoa e Fiorentina già declinate. #calciomercato
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) December 31, 2019
Mariano Diaz remains among the targets after being mentioned in the summer, with the start of the season giving him little action at Real Madrid. Corriere Dello Sport name him as part of a two-man shortlist, along with Genoa’s on-loan Inter Milan starlet Andrea Pinamonti. Links with Moise Kean appear to be fading after Carlo Ancelotti’s appointment at Everton.
Another name to return from summer links is Marc Bartra, with the defender said to be a possible reinforcement by RomaNewsEU. Pau Torres is also mentioned, with a new centre-back possibly being a requirement in the event of Juan Jesus leaving.
La Roma si informa in Spagna per possibili rinforzi in difesa per gennaio: chieste informazioni sulle situazioni di Marc #Bartra (già cercato in estate) e Pau Torres. Discorsi, comunque, al momento fermi. #ASRoma @romanewseu
— Alessandro Tagliaboschi (@Aletaglia95) December 26, 2019
Jesus has not played for the club at all since September, and according to Gazzetta, the price tag has been set at €8m. Fiorentina and Bologna are among the interested parties.
A reinforcement at right-back is also being considered, with Davide Zappacosta injured for most of the season, and Alessandro Florenzi and Leonardo Spinazzola struggling for form. It is unlikely that Florenzi will leave, but a new player could still be brought in. Elseid Hysaj has been suggested again as he continues to struggle for action at Napoli.
Joel Veltman of Ajax is named by Corriere Dello Sport as another option, while Atalanta full-backs Timothy Castagne and Hans Hateboer would be harder to purchase.
One less significant departure could be that of Mirko Antonucci, with the young winger failing to make much of an impact. He is expected to be loaned out, with Sampdoria rivalling a number of Serie B clubs for his signature.
Corriere Dello Sport say that Mert Cetin could also be loaned out for experience, although it is not yet clear who wants to take him.
Elsewhere, Petrachi will be working on the contract renewals of Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante.
Other links in summary:
In: Nahitan Nandez (Cagliari, Calciomercato)
Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal, Sky Sports)
Borna Barisic (Rangers, Calciomercato.it)
Matias Vecino (Inter, Gazzetta Dello Sport)
Josko Gvardiol (Dinamo Zagreb, Il Messaggero)
Adolfo Gaich (San Lorenzo, SportItalia)
Andrea Petagna (SPAL, TeleRadioStereo)
Sebastiano Esposito (Inter, Radio Radio)
Mohamed Simakan (Strasbourg, L’Equipe)
Wanderson (Krasnodar, TeleRadioStereo)
Out: Javier Pastore (Lyon, Gazzetta Dello Sport)
Steven Nzonzi (Everton, Gazzetta Dello Sport)
Keep visiting Giallorossi Yorkshire for all the latest transfer updates in Janaury, as well as checking the Twitter account and YouTube channel.
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