Following Steven Nzonzi’s move from AS Roma to Qatari side Al-Rayaan, outlet Il Romanista today features a big piece about the Giallorossi’s savings with his departure and the need for a replacement in his position.
The Serie A side are said to be interested in signing another midfielder in the January market, and Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz is once again named as an option.
Il Romanista features a bunch of maths to prove that the Serie A side would by then have the necessary money to sign the Brazilian. Following Nzonzi’s departure, they now must make the sale of either Amadou Diawara or Gonzalo Villar, plus confirm Pau Lopez’s permanent departure to Marseille, which depends on a number of appearances during his loan.
The amount Roma would be looking for is said to be €30m. That’s how much Aston Villa are reportedly letting Douglas Luiz go for, to us that sounds a little low and it’s likely to be the Italian media being overly optimistic on behalf of Roma.
The website writes that Douglas Luiz continues to be the ‘first goal’ for José Mourinho among the midfield targets. This isn’t the first time this term is used this week, as on Monday, website Calcio Mercato also referred to the 23-year-old as Roma’s ‘main goal’.
The Serie A side were repeatedly linked to the midfielder in the summer window, and apparently couldn’t match Aston Villa’s €30m demands. Now it seems they’re hopeful the price will remain the same.
Time will tell.
