On Monday evening, Leeds United contacted AS Roma over a deal for Nicolò Zaniolo in the winter market.
The Whites wanted to take the forward on loan with an option to buy, converted to obligation if certain conditions are met, but this had not pleased the Giallorossi.
Reports in Italy stated the 23-year-old had made it clear he liked the option to join Leeds on deadline day, especially since his relationship with the Serie A side is now broken and was keen on getting a move away from Roma.
Zaniolo failed to find a new club and will continue with José Mourinho’s side, at least until the end of this season, although whether he plays remains to be seen.
Corriere dello Sport on Wednesday gives an insight into the efforts put in by Roma chief Tiago Pinto to get the Italy international out of the club.
It’s claimed Pinto ‘had contact with Leeds managers’ hours before the window closed to try to convince them to sign Zaniolo on loan with an obligation to buy, but Jesse Marsch’s side never ‘accepted’ these demands.
The negotiations also seemingly depended on other factors, such as a sale of Jack Harrison from Leeds to Leicester City, which never took place.
Roma will look to offload Zaniolo after this season and it remains to be seen if Leeds will still be interested in him in the summer.
