Transfers

Roma want Defrel for January

John Solano
I

Il Corriere dello Sport: Roma are ready to go shopping in the transfer market. The Giallorossi are ready to spend in the upcoming window and have their sights on a few concrete names.

For the midfield, a transfer for Tomas Rincon is nearly complete, now the club are looking for a replacement for Salah who will leave for AFCON after Thursday’s match against Chievo.

Sassuolo attacker Grégoire Defrel has long been a favorite of Luciano Spalletti, who has followd him from the days when he played at Cesena and has been impressed by the performance that he had against Roma in the match played in Reggio Emilia at the end of October. Roma and Sassuolo have had a couple of meetings in recent months to talk about various situations, not only Defrel. At the appropriate time, the parties will meet again and Defrel himself will make a decision if he will leave Sassuolo. The Frenchman, who this season has scored 6 goals in 15 appearances, feels ready to begin a new adventure at a big club and the hypothesis of Roma fascinates him as he would probably have the opportunity to play in the Champions League. The striker and his agent, Giampaolo Pocetta, have scheduled a meeting with the leaders Sassuolo in the next few days, after the match against Cagliari and will evaluate the offers that have arrived for the player. Roma are strongly interested and can build the operation very similar to that developed with Genoa for Rincon: a paid loan with an obligation to buy. Sassuolo have always said they do not want to sell the striker, but in light of their disappointing season, they may have choices to make. Sassuolo have been hit by injuries and misfortune and now find themselves in a relegation battle. Di Francesco rates Defrel and doesn’t want to lose him this season, but Sassuolo must first have the return of Berardi.

Defrel would be an excellent alternative to Salah and can play multiple roles across the attack. He’s left-footed, quick, with a good eye for goal. The attacker feels ready for the big jump as even West Ham and Marseille have made some inquiries for the player. Sassuolo have slapped a €15 million price tag on Defrel, however, relations between Roma and Sassuolo are very good as they have done a number of operations together over the last few years. Just like with Lorenzo Pellegrini, who Sassuolo received a number of inquiries about, however, Roma will undoubtedly exercise their option to repurchase him for €10 million.

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