Roma Maintain Their Pole Position to Sign Raspadori

Roma are close to securing Giacomo Raspadori after sprinting in recent days, as other teams have started pursuing him as well. The Giallorossi have reached an agreement in principle with Atletico Madrid and will now proceed with his personal terms, Matteo Moretto reports (via SOSFanta).

The capital club could be able to pull off the deal on loan with an option to put, paying a €2M initial fee and eventually €19M down the line. The player and his camp didn’t begin negotiating with other sides before receiving the go-ahead for his departure.

Roma needed to accelerate because Lazio and Atalanta tested the waters for Raspadori as well, Alfredo Pedullà informs. The Bergamaschi tried earlier in the week, but they didn’t find a large opening. Instead, the Biancocelesti did it after orchestrating the sale of Taty Castellanos to West Ham.

The Argentine is headed to London for about €30M, opening up significant resources. Maurizio Sarri has had success with a false-nine in the past, for instance, Dries Mertens. However, it appears that their crosstown rivals have built a comfortable enough lead not to miss out on one of their primary targets.

Our Take on Roma, Lazio, and Raspadori

There’s a gap in prestige between the suitors, and probably also salaries, but the Biancocelesti could potentially offer him a more prominent role, as he’d have to split minutes with other attackers with La Lupa, while he’d be their unquestionable top option for them. Plus, they could propose a more definitive formula thanks to the recent cash influx. Conversely, the Giallorossi have been at it for a few weeks. It’d be a black eye if they were overtaken at the final corner.