Roma continues its search for midfield reinforcements. The club has reportedly increased its offer for Richard Rios, bringing it within €5 million of Palmeiras` valuation. Meanwhile, negotiations are also progressing for Neil El Aynaoui of RC Lens.
The Giallorossi are working to reshape their squad to align with the tactical vision of new coach Gian Piero Gasperini, which necessitates several changes in midfield.
Currently, there are two primary targets, and the club is attempting to advance discussions for both players simultaneously, awaiting to see which deal can be concluded first.
Rios Remains Roma`s Primary Midfield Target
Rios from Palmeiras is considered the priority candidate. Recent reports suggest the latest proposal has reduced the gap between Roma`s offer and Palmeiras` valuation to just €5 million. This offer is understood to be €25 million plus €5 million in add-ons. Considering the reported asking price of €30 million plus bonuses, this bid brings the clubs much closer but is not yet enough to secure the transfer.
Concurrently, it is reported that Roma has reached an agreement on personal terms with El Aynaoui. However, persuading RC Lens to sanction a sale for under €30 million is proving difficult. This situation was underscored when El Aynaoui participated in 45 minutes of a recent pre-season friendly against Standard Liege. His coach, Pierre Sage, implied the player was not immediately leaving by stating that if he had been ready to depart, he wouldn`t have played.
