With Nicolò Zaniolo asking out, Roma have begun looking for an attacker that could substitute him. On top of Hakim Ziyech, the Giallorossi are eyeing Gerard Deulofeu, who just returned from a knee injury, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.
The capital side has the Chelsea outcast atop his shortlist, but he earns about €6M per year, which is problematic to them. Milan also had trouble meeting his requests on personal terms earlier in the January window, and they don’t have as many Financial Fair Play restrictions as their fellow Serie A rivals. La Lupa was close to the Moroccan star in 2017, but sporting director Monchi signed Javier Pastore instead.
Deulofeu is being strongly pursued by Aston Villa, which offered €20M to Udinese and €4M wages to the player. The Bianconeri would prefer keeping him until the end of the season, but they might cave under the right circumstances. Tottenham proposed Lucas Moura to Roma during the Zaniolo talks, but they were lukewarm on him since he’s 31, and they want cash.
According to Alfredo Pedullà, the Giallorossi and Milan are distant on the figures for the Azzurri starlet. The Rossoneri offered a loan with option to buy in a €20/25M package. The 23-year-old has given the reigning champions his priority as he’d like to stay in Italy.
Our Take on Roma, Zaniolo, and his Possible Replacements
La Lupa will need a forward to replenish their depth, but it shouldn’t be somebody too cumbersome that needs to play all the time. Deulofeu would suffice, but they can’t offer as much as Aston Villa. They would be better off adding a top midfielder and using Lorenzo Pellegrini as a no.10, where he’s at his best.
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