Fazio to Roma, will injury push this through quick?

TRANSFER TALK

Roma Sporting Director Walter Sabatini has long been watching the situation of Tottenham's 29-year-old unwanted Agentinian centre-back Federico Fazio.

Sky Sports Italia are suggesting Roma might be back in for him with Tottenham keen to offload him. Of course, they will want a nice cheap deal ad we will be looking to recoup much of what we paid for him. The deal with Espanyol, as reported earlier, has hit a snag over his price and the fact Espanyol want us to contribute to his wages if they loan him and lay them a lump sum if they buy him, much in the same way Manchester City paid us for Emmanuel Adebayor.

That leaves us looking elsewhere and knowing of their interest we have apparently contacted them to offer Fazio to them. It would appear from other Italian sources though that Roma want Fazio on loan, which again without a guaranteed buy clause isn't of much use to us. Yes if he has a good season his price could increase, but as he would then be entering the last year of his contract it would go back down to a minimal level.

Further sources suggest a bid will be coming from Roma so everyone is guessing away with no real news, apart from Fazio is for sale and Roma are a side who have followed him. Fazio is not their only defensive target though, they have made enquiries with West Ham for 28-year-old former Juventus centre-back, Italian Angelo Ogbonna.

It might be a long drag to get Fazio sold with clubs waiting until the ed of the window to get him at a knock-down price. Having said that Roma are in the Champions League play-offs so are pushed for time. The play-off round takes place on 16/17 August and 23/24 August with the draw for that round on 5 August.

Fazio has met with fellow Argentinian Diego Perotti in Rome, the 28-year-old plays for Roma. Their need is pressing due to an injury to 23-year-old German centre-back Antonio Rüdige. For such important games you would want a replacement to have had as much time with his teammates as possible so if Roma are genuine in wanting him then we should be hearing more news soon.

---