Two AS Roma targets join Chelsea; Giallorossi fail to sign strikers
Facundo Ferreyra and Bruno Martins Indi snubbed Roma to join EPL giants Chelsea
Giallorossi fail to agree fees for Jackson Martinez and Luis Muriel
Francesco Totti ensures fans that there will be high profile signings in the near future
Having finally fought off interest in all of his star players, the stage seemed set for Francesco Totti to finally delve into the transfer market and bring in a few marquee signings. Having crashed out in just the First Knockout Round of the Champions League last year, AS Roma knew that they would need some big additions to the squad to make a deeper run.
Roma had only one player over 20 goals last season, Adem Ljajic, and having already sold Mattia Destro to Atletico for €15m, so a new striker was certainly high up on the shopping list. Facundo Ferreyra was supposedly the highest target on the list. The Shakhtar Donetsk striker had scored 49 goals in 73 games since signing and had a host of top clubs interested in him.
Consigned to letting him leave, the Shakhtar hierarchy had agreed to a €15.5m fee with both AS Roma and Barclays Premier League club Chelsea. The Argentinian born striker eventually decided to agree on a €60k per week contract through 2020 with Chelsea, stating that he has always dreamed of playing in the English top division.
Despite heavy interest from two-time defending Serie A champions AS Roma, ex-Shakhtar Donetsk striker Facundo Ferreyra has chosen to sign for the riches of EPL side Chelsea.
After missing out on Ferreyra, it is reported that Totti turned to his backup options; FC Porto's Jackson Martinez or Udinese's Luis Muriel. Despite makings bids as high as high as €20m for each striker, however, neither club were willing to sell. Now it seems that Roma scouts must continue to scour the world's top leagues to find a different striker to fill Destro's boots.
Having also recently sold Paolo Cannavaro and Leandro Castan for small fees, Totti knew that a new central defender would be key signing to partner Mehdi Benatia and provide competition for Tin Jedvaj. Feyenoord's 24 year old Dutchman Bruno Martins Indi was top of the shortlist for AS Roma, and a €17m fee was quickly hammered out.
However, it was a familiar story for the Italian champions as Chelsea were quick to match their bid. And, much like the signing of Facundo Ferreyra, Martins Indi chose to accept Chelsea's five-year contract offer and make the trek over to London instead of Rome.
Yet again, Chelsea managed to steal one of AS Roma's transfer targets from right under their noses, this time bringing in Dutch defender Bruno Martins Indi.
Having failed to bring in these 'marquee' signings, AS Roma are reportedly looking at a number of new targets to bring to the Olimpico. AFC Fiorentina's Sebastian Giovinco, who made the Serie A Team of the Season last term with 9 goals and 10 assists, is being mentioned, as is Blackburn's Jordan Rhodes, who has scored 80 goals in 133 league appearances in England.
In terms of defenders, Mattia Darmian remains the heavy favorite to sign with the Giallorossi now that they've missed out on Martins Indi. The Catania defender is supposedly a target alongside Olympique Lyon's 22 year starlet Samuel Umtiti, considered one of the brightest young defenders in the game.
Despite early transfer failure, Francesco Totti remains positive. "Sometimes the market just shapes up in ways you don't expect, but we are flexible, we have options, and we have time. When the right players become available, we will bring them to the Olimpico, and we are certainly looking at some top talent right now."
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