Roma hit the accelerator
Three days. That is all OM have left to sell, and the Marseille club need the cash as badly as they need to trim the wage bill.
AS Roma have stepped up their pursuit of Leonardo Balerdi in the last few hours, according to Foot Mercato. An agreement is said to be in place already between the Italian club and the defender.
The hard part is still to come. Talks with Marseille have started, with a loan including an obligation to buy on the table. That structure lets Roma spread the cost and gives OM some security on the sale.
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The split was agreed back in April
Balerdi is no surprise case. Foot Mercato reported in April that the player and OM had already agreed to part ways, provided the right offer arrived.
The Argentine joined Marseille in July 2020 from Borussia Dortmund. Six seasons later, he has worn the armband, taken plenty of flak, won back a good deal of respect, and picked up 11 caps for Argentina.
His value abroad has never really dropped. That is precisely what OM are chasing in the final stretch of the window: players they can move quickly and for serious money.
Balerdi, Paixao, and a hole nobody has planned for
The defender is not the only name on the exit list. Igor Paixao is being tipped as close to Sunderland, even if that one is splitting opinion inside Bruno Genesio’s dressing room.
Two sales in a matter of days would reshape Marseille’s window. They would also leave a defensive gap to plug in a hurry. Nothing is signed, and the clock is running for everyone involved.
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