Roma are without star Paulo Dybala for life and have identified Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Giovani Lo Celso as a possible replacement, TEAMtalk can exclusively reveal.
Dybala’s successful seven-year spell with Juventus came to an end in July 2022 when he left over an unclear decision following a contract dispute. The striker then joined Roma, Juve’s Serie A rivals, in a move that generated much fanfare.
Dybala has scored 34 goals and 18 assists in 77 games for Roma and has established himself as one of the club’s top stars.
In fact, the Argentine scored 16 goals and 10 assists in 39 games last season, helping Roma reach the semi-finals of the Europa League, the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia and finishing sixth in the Italian top flight.
However, Dybala is expected to leave Roma in the coming days. Saudi Arabian club Al-Qadisiyah agreed to pay €18m (£15. 3m) for Dybala and also signed a three-year deal with the star for €45m (£38. 3m).
Roma are now scouring the market for playmakers who can succeed Dybala, and resources have shown TEAMtalk’s movement correspondent Fraser Gillan that Tottenham’s Lo Celso is one of their shortlists.
Tottenham are keen to permanently part ways with the 28-year-old to make room in the squad and raise funds for the move, a stance that has alerted Roma to Lo Celso’s availability.
However, Daniele De Rossi’s team is the only one interested in Lo Celso. Lo Celso also has potential suitors in La Liga and Saudi Arabia, while other Serie A clubs are also monitoring his situation.
Roma will have to send tempting offers to Spurs and Lo Celso if they are to win this particular transfer race.
If the Rosario-born ace, who is Dybala’s Argentinian compatriot, were to leave for Roma, he would be the last unwanted player to leave Ange Postecoglou’s team.
Spurs have already rationalized their ranks by allowing the likes of Emerson Royal, Joe Rodon, Tanguy Ndombele, Japhet Tanganga and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to leave.
Experienced defender Ben Davies has also been suggested to look for a new club; on Wednesday it was stated that he would prefer to remain with the Spurs for the final year of his contract.