AS Roma are gearing up for the crucial second leg against Bayer Leverkusen, which is set to be the most significant match of the season for the Italian club. With their hopes of securing a top-four finish in the league fading, as Jose Mourinho’s side currently sit in sixth place with 59 points, six points adrift the fourth place with only three games remaining, i Lupi’s are turning their focus to the Europa League with the aim of going all the way. The return leg at the BayArena is scheduled for Thursday, with Roma holding a 1-0 advantage from the first leg.
However, amidst their Europa League campaign and as the season draws to it’s dusk, the club is already planning for the upcoming summer transfer market, considering both incoming and outgoing transfers. In an effort to generate funds, especially given the financial fair play constraints they are facing, Sporting Director Tiago Pinto is looking to offload players who are not part of the team’s long-term plans. The objective is to raise the necessary 40 million euros by the end of June – failing to do so might force the club to sell one of their key players.
Currently, two players appear to have significant market value and could be on the potential departure list – Tammy Abraham and Roger Ibanez.
Tammy Abraham, the 1997-born English striker, has struggled to live up to expectations this season, failing to replicate his previous performances. With only nine goals and seven assists in 49 appearances across league and cup competitions, Roma is considering selling the former Aston Villa man, especially given the reported interest from Premier League clubs.
Another player who could be on the departure list is the 1998-born Brazilian defender, Roger Ibanez. Although manager Jose Mourinho sees him as a key defensive asset, his inconsistent performances have left some doubts. As a result, the Roma management are said to be contemplating selling him if attractive offers are received. Aston Villa, led by Unai Emery, has been monitoring Ibanez for some time and are reportedly interested in securing his services.
To convince Tiago Pinto to sell Ibanez, Aston Villa will need to meet Roma’s asking price, which ranges between 35 and 40 million euros. While this is a significant sum, it is well within the financial reach of Premier League clubs, considering their substantial resources. As Roma awaits the resolution of Jose Mourinho’s future with the club, they are already planning for the upcoming season, which may include the departure of a key player who seems to be on the verge of leaving.
It has been reported that multiple English clubs have shown interest in the 24-year-old defender – Aston Villa, in particular, have been closely monitoring him for several months. According to CalcioMercatoWeb, Unai Emery’s team is now actively pursuing the signing, taking advantage of Roma’s willingness to generate funds. In addition to Villa, other clubs viz. Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur, and West Ham United have also been linked with the Brazilian international.
Aston Villa might need to act swiftly to secure his services and stay ahead of the competition.
