Aston Villa eye Romagnoli transfer as contract talks begin
Aston Villa are going to have to find creative ways of being able to strengthen their squad this summer after missing out on Champions League football at the end of the season.
The Villans must toe the line carefully where finances are concerned at the minute if they are to remain compliant with the Premier League’s PSR regulations.
Qualification for the Champions League would have helped to ease those concerns somewhat but, with Unai Emery’s side only able to secure a spot in Europe’s secondary club competition for next season, their summer transfer budget is likely to be a little tighter than it otherwise would have been.
If they feel the need to bring in additions in multiple areas, then Villa may be forced to look at potential targets, which would provide the best value for money, rather than any big-money alternatives.
Alessio Romagnoli on Aston Villa radar
One area of the squad that Villa are clearly keen to add to is their centre-back department.
The second city club have already been linked with a move for Hellas Verona’s Diego Coppola, and they are now being tipped to sign another Italian defender.
Lazio’s Alessio Romagnoli is another man who could be set for a switch to Villa Park this summer, according to Il Messaggero (2 June) in information shared by La Lazio Siamo Noi (3 June).
The 30-year-old hinted towards the end of the season that his future with the blue half of the Italian capital may be uncertain, though he also suggested that it would be out of his control.
Lazio are set to enter into contract negotiations with the former AC Milan and Roma man in the next few weeks, with both parties hoping to reach a swift agreement. Romagnoli’s current contract is due to expire in two years.
However, should those talks fail to result in renewed terms being agreed, then it is understood that Villa could be waiting in the wings to bring him to England. The left-sided centre half has also caught the eye of several Saudi Arabian clubs, who are thought to be preparing lucrative offers.
Romagnoli could be a clever signing for Villa
In the context of their current financial situation, Romagnoli could prove to be a very shrewd addition by Villa, if the opportunity to bring him to Villa Park materialises.
The former Italy international has seemingly grown frustrated at the lack of assurance that he has received from Lazio, and that may cause an issue in their upcoming discussions.
Emery and the club’s hierarchy will be limited by their financial constraints, meaning they must ensure that every target is one that wouldn’t break the bank.
The current suggestion is that a potential deal for Coppola may cost in the region of £8million, and you would imagine that Romagnoli could also be available for a fee on the cheaper end of the scale by the market’s current standards.
He has briefly represented his country at various stages of his career, but with Romagnoli now 30 and yet to have played outside his homeland, it would be a huge surprise if Lazio were to demand a fee beyond the region of £10-20m.
Romagnoli would not be a flashy signing for Villa by any means, but if they could secure his services for a relatively small fee, he could be the ideal way to bring added experience to their backline for an insignificant outlay.