Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi expects a ‘creative transfer market’ with many exchange deals and feels able to convince both Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolò Zaniolo to stay at the Olimpico.
The Giallorossi’s market man spoke to Sky Sport Italia about the club’s plans this summer and remained confident that they will be able to keep Manchester United defender Chris Smalling and Arsenal attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who have spent the current season on loan in Rome.
Roma sporting director Gianluca Petrachi expects a ‘creative transfer market’ with many exchange deals and feels able to convince both Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolò Zaniolo to stay at the Olimpico.
The Giallorossi’s market man spoke to Sky Sport Italia about the club’s plans this summer and remained confident that they will be able to keep Manchester United defender Chris Smalling and Arsenal attacker Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who have spent the current season on loan in Rome.
“For contracts that expire on June 30, we have to wait,” he told Sky Sport Italia. “But I’m quite confident that they will continue with us until the end of the championship.
“Roma’s plans include the reconfirmation of [Chris] Smalling and [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan. They are happy with us and I’m confident. The upcoming transfer market will be more complicated.”
Lorenzo Pellegrini and Nicolò Zaniolo have been linked away from the club this summer but Petrachi thinks he can convince the duo to remain at the Olimpico.
“Lorenzo has a release clause in his contract, but the decision is up to the boy and I have little doubt about his desire to stay.
“Zaniolo represents the player who excites the fans. We will do everything we can to keep him, even if you never know in the transfer market.”
Patrick Schick has spent the season on loan at RB Leipzig, who has an option to buy the player, but the sporting director confirmed that the Germans work to get a discount on the set price.
“Schick is the clear example of the new difficulties of the market. He is doing very well at Leipzig but they are trying to pay less,” he added. “We will not give a discount, also because there are other teams interested in him and they have already contacted me.
“We talked about it with his manager, Lucci. We will see at the end of the season.”
Reports in Italian newspapers have claimed Rolando Mandragora and Daniele Rugani could arrive in the Eternal City this summer, but Petrachi has quashed the rumours regarding discussions with Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici and ruled out a move for Everton forward Moise Kean as well.
“Rugani and Mandragora will not enter Roma’s plans, I haven’t heard from Paratici in a long time.
“I have never dealt with Kean, he’s a great player but not a target of ours.”
But he has not ruled out exchange deals for his stars and revealed that Cengiz Under has many followers.
“There will be a host of swap deals in the next transfer market, the ability to find the intelligent exchange will be key. Whoever makes the fewest mistakes, will do the best deals. It will be a creative market.
“We will see what happens [with Under], he’s a winger of great value. I already wanted him at Torino, there are many clubs that wants him, but it’s still early.”
Petrachi has told Roma fans to wait until the season is over before the deals will be made and was coy about the possible arrivals of Pedro Rodriguez and Jack Bonaventura.
“We will have to wait because the championship is in progress. But we will not be unprepared if we might be able to make a coup.
“We are working to help Roma grow, I would like to continue the work this summer.”