It’s the holiday season. The perfect time to reflect on the more important aspects of life, like our loved-ones, spiritual bonds and of course the January transfer market. The winter session will offer the final opportunity for clubs to strengthen their squads ahead of what will be a grueling run following the lengthy World Cup break, and surely José Mourinho isn’t someone who enjoys being left behind. Therefore, the Giallorossi will have to pull off some special gifts to keep the Special One happy. So what will we find in Mourinho’s Christmas box this year?
Despite a spectacular summer transfer campaign, the capital side still finds itself lagging behind Napoli’s chasing pack, as they currently sit 7th in the Serie A standings and with an abysmal record against the other big clubs.
Even though signing top players remains an unlikely scenario in the middle of the campaign, the Romans can still bolster their ranks with some useful additions who can add quality depth to the squad, particularly in the next three playing positions.
Centre-Back
In Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling and Roger Ibanez, Roma have a competent back-three that combines youth with experience, solidity with speed and agility. However, this is where Mourinho’s defensive options end.
Outside of the trio of starters, i Lupi lack reliable defenders who hold the trust and esteem of their manager. In two and a half years in the Italian capital, it just never happened for Marash Kumbulla. The young Albanian needs to resurrect his playing career elsewhere while he still can. William Bianda’s case isn’t any different, as he remains a mystery figure around the Stadio Olimpico.
So what Mourinho and Roma need at the moment is a capable centre-back who can hit the ground running and offer the manager an alternative for the three aforementioned starters who would undoubtedly feel the exhaustion while playing on multiple fronts (counting the Europa League).
Admittedly, the options are somewhat limited, especially for a club operating on a tight budget. Therefore, Roma could resort to domestic solutions, AKA, defenders who already ply their trade in Italian football, albeit at smaller clubs.
Our list of suggestions includes Empoli’s Adrian Ismajili, Bologna’s Adama Soumaoro and Torino’s Koffi Djidji, but the pick of the bunch would be Verona’s Koray Gunter, who’s arguably one of the most underrated centre-backs in Serie A. Surely the German would relish the opportunity to escape the miserable situation at the Bentegodi Stadium, with the Gialloblu seemingly destined for relegation.
Right Wingback
We all know the story behind this one. Rick Karsdorp has been efficient enough on the right flank for the past couple of years, but his form has recently dropped with Mourinho suggesting a lack of effort and commitment from the player’s part. The Portuguese unceremoniously invited the Dutchman to leave the club during a post-match outburst, albeit without naming him.
So with the two men on a collision course, the 27-year-old would be wise to pack his bags and depart the Eternal City as soon as possible, which would leave the club with one natural option for the right wingback role in the form of Zeki Celik, and the jury is still out on the Turk.
But regardless of whether Celik is good enough for a starting position or not, the Giallorossi need another option for the position, and once again, the options are quite limited.
While Wilfried Singo might be the ideal candidate for the role, Roma are unlikely to splash a sum that would be large enough to tempt Torino president Urbano Cairo. Hence, the rumored exchange with Juventus regarding Karsdorp and Mattia De Sciglio might be the most appropriate and affordable solution, gifting Mourinho a versatile fullback with massive Serie A experience under his belt.
Central Midfielder
Following Georginio Wijnaldum’s injury, Roma did well by immediately signing Mady Camara as a replacement, while Bryan Cristante and Nemanja Matic remain solid options for the double-pivot. As for club captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, he tends to play in a more advanced position, almost alongside Paulo Dybala in the currently-adopted 3-4-2-1 formation.
While Mourinho’s midfield isn’t terrible by any means, the department does need someone new who can offer something different, like an additional burst of energy which takes the tempo to another gear.
In the previous two departments, we had to improvise and come up with our own suggestions, but this time, the option is clear as crystal since Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto has identified Davide Frattesi as the right man for the job.
The Italy international will leave Sassuolo sooner rather than later, and with his other suitors either busy with chasing different transfer targets or paralyzed by financial difficulties, this seems to be the perfect chance for Roma to deliver a remarkable coup and wrap up a wonderful gift for Mourinho, even if it arrives a few weeks after Christmas.
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