Ndombele a new name for the midfield
Tuesday 28th September
Embed from Getty ImagesAccording to Calciomercato, Roma could turn their attention towards Jose Mourinho’s former club Tottenham for their crucial midfield reinforcement.
The online outlet believes Tanguy Ndombele could be an option for Roma in the January transfer window.
The former Lyon midfielder has been inconsistent for Spurs but was showing flashes of quality in Mourinho’s final few months there. Since, he has fallen to the fringes under Nuno Espirito Santo.
While at Tottenham, Mourinho spoke of how Ndombele frustrated him for not fulfilling his potential, but clearly rated him highly. In turn, the player said he had a good relationship with the coach despite public criticism.
Whether they would reunite in Rome remains to be seen.
Douglas Luiz desired
Saturday 25th September
The search for a new central midfielder will dominate Roma transfer news until the end of the January transfer window. Plenty of time remains for the club to whittle down their shortlist, but Il Romanista believe they know the top target.
They claim Tiago Pinto prefers Douglas Luiz of Aston Villa, despite his agent being ready to discuss a new contract with the English side. If the Brazilian does not renew his deal there, Roma could pounce.
Luiz wants a wage rise to his Villa contract, which expires in 2023. The Birmingham outfit could even sell him in January if they cannot accommodate that, despite his role of prominence in their team.
Roma looked at him in the summer, when he was worth around €35m. The asking price remains at a similar level, so sales would have to materialise first. To that end, Steven Nzonzi seems set to join Al-Rayyan, while Amadou Diawara or Gonzalo Villar may be on the market in January. Furthermore, Roma expect Marseille to pay them for the permanent transfers of Pau Lopez and Cengiz Under by then, so they could be able to spend.
Roma ready to sign Hagi in January?
Friday 24th September
Embed from Getty ImagesRather surprising claims have emerged from Romania in recent hours on the topic that Roma could sign Ianis Hagi in January.
The Scottish Sun have cited Sport.ro and Pro TV in Hagi’s native country that a deal is close to sign the attacking midfielder in the winter window.
This seems surprising given that Roma are working on the addition of a defensive midfielder, and a backup right-back should be their next priority.
But there is a belief that a deal for around €20m is close for the former Fiorentina man. Interestingly, the original report from Sport.ro claims Roma would be beating arch-rivals Lazio and Monchi’s Sevilla to Hagi.
Only time will tell the truth behind these reports, though.
Mourinho to repeat Dalot signing?
Tuesday 21st September
Roma’s rebuild is a long-term project, so there are still some areas of the squad that haven’t been addressed since the appointment of Jose Mourinho. One of these is right-back, where the coach only has one option he trusts.
Rick Karsdorp has been the regular starter in that position this season and last, but Davide Santon will not be reintegrated into the squad and Mourinho sent a message by leaving Bryan Reynolds in the stands – rather than on the bench – for Roma’s most recent match against Verona.
Corriere Dello Sport reported yesterday that right-back will be the first area Roma look to reinforce in January, despite defensive midfield also being an urgent priority.
Calciomercato believe they know an ideal solution: Diogo Dalot.
The Portugal international returned to Manchester United this summer after a productive loan spell in Serie A with AC Milan. However, he remains second choice behind Aaron Wan-Bissaka at Old Trafford.
Therefore, Roma may try their luck in January to take him on loan with an option to buy, which would reunite him with the man who was in charge at Man Utd when he moved there – Mourinho.
United themselves were trying to sign another right-back in the summer, so in theory, if they can get one in the winter, Dalot may be available to move.
Roma keeping tabs on Scamacca
Friday 10th September
Former Roma academy player Gianluca Scamacca has been linked with a return to the club for a while now.
Currently with Sassuolo – the Giallorossi’s next opponent – Gazzetta Dello Sport claim Roma will be keeping an eye on his progress this season.
There is a widespread belief that Borja Mayoral will be sent back to Real Madrid, whatever happens between now and next summer. But Mourinho will still want a third striker in his squad and that could be Scamacca.
The pink paper also notes interest from Juventus, AC Milan, Napoli and Atletico Madrid in the 22-year-old, who recently earned his first cap for Italy.
After scoring 12 goals on loan at Genoa last season, this year will be decisive for Scamacca in seeing if he can step up to the next level.
Roma retain Zakaria hope
Tuesday 7th September
One of the main midfielders linked with Roma over the summer was Denis Zakaria of Borussia Monchengladbach. However, things took a turn against the Giallorossi when Gladbach tried to renew his contract.
Without moving other midfielders on, Roma were unable to make space for Zakaria anyway. But they may not have missed out after all.
According to Corriere Dello Sport, Zakaria does not want to renew his contract with the Bundesliga side, which expires in 2022.
Therefore, it is speculated that Roma could try to sign him in January, while Gladbach can still get a fee.
Azmoun interest for next summer
Sunday 5th September
Embed from Getty ImagesRoma signed two new strikers in 2021 with Tammy Abraham and Eldor Shomurodov, but are already being linked with another for next year.
One of the players they considered before adding Abraham to their squad was Sardar Azmoun of Zenit Saint Petersburg. The Iran international himself has even confirmed that the Russian club rejected an offer from Roma.
According to Corriere Dello Sport, he remains a top objective for next summer, when he will be a free agent.
The newspaper seems to believe there will be little chance of Roma keeping Borja Mayoral when his loan expires, but Mourinho will still want a third striker in his squad.
Of course, each player’s form could change those plans over the next few months, but Azmoun is someone to keep an eye on still.
He has scored 50 goals in 70 Russian Premier League games for Zenit, and 37 in 55 caps for his country.
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