Roma boss Jose Mourinho is keen to complete the signing of out-of-favour Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum in the coming week. According to Calciomercato, the Giallorossi CEO Tiago Pinto has struck a ‘verbal agreement’ with PSG over the Dutchman’s switch to Serie A.
Wijnaldum should join Roma on a season-long loan with an option to buy for €20m. The reigning French champions have authorised the 31-year-old’s departure on a temporary basis as they aim to trim down their ballooning wage bill.
But though Roma managed to convince Paris to give up their underperforming midfielder, there’s still a roadblock to overcome. While Les Parisiens have nothing against Wijnaldum’s exit, they remain eager to remove his salary off the books.
Roma would like to pay a portion of the Netherlands international’s hefty wages. Talks between the teams are ongoing as they aim to find a solution that would satisfy all parties involved. It’s also understood that Wijnaldum is enthusiastic about moving to the Stadio Olimpico.
Following Paulo Dybala’s blockbuster arrival on a free transfer, a potential signing of the Dutch playmaker would be a statement of intent. Mourinho led Roma to Europa Conference League glory last season. He hopes to get them back into the Serie A top four for the first time since 2017/18.
Adding a new centre-back is also among Mourinho’s priorities. Former Borussia Dortmund defender Dan-Axel Zagadou appears to be a possible candidate to fill the need. The 23-year-old was released by the Germans at the end of last season upon the expiration of his contract.
But before launching an attempt to sign Zagadou, Roma would like to sort out Wijnaldum’s deal.