Nicolo Zaniolo AWOL from Roma training, needs Leeds United to up their offer on deadline day
Nicolo Zaniolo has not turned up for Roma training without permission on deadline day amid continued links to Leeds United, Calcio Mercato reports.
The attacking midfielder has been linked to numerous moves within the Premier League and Europe this month after making clear that he wanted to leave Jose Mourinho’s outfit, who have themselves taken Diego Llorente on the final day.
The Whites have made a late loan approach but the Serie A side want a permanent deal of over £24million [Gianluca Di Marzio, 30 January], and now only an improved offer from Elland Road or elsewhere in the Premier League is seen as a viable solution for the player who is said to be “out of the project” in Rome.
In Calcio Mercato’s 12.20pm update it was reported: “Zaniolo still absent in Trigoria for training. This is not a choice agreed with the company.”
The next update at 12.45pm added: “Only a raise from Leeds (with which Llorente was closed) or another Premier club can change the scenario.”
Door open
Zaniolo has backed himself into a corner at the Stadio Olimpico and now looks like he has no chance of reconciling with the club.
But if Roma are going to insist on big money for a player who they won’t be playing then he may end up being stuck out in the cold for the rest of the season.
Having just brought in Weston McKennie to join Tyler Adams in central midfield that position looks much-better covered now, and further forward Jesse Marsch has a glut of options.
So Leeds United are unlikely to want to spent significant money on a player who would look like a luxury signing, and who has a worrying injury record.
But this has the looks of a quintessential deadline transfer, with options dwindling for both the player and the selling club, after the likes of AC Milan, Bournemouth and West Ham all apparently fell by the wayside this month.
Roma want a return to get rid of Zaniolo and nothing is a sure thing, but as the deadline approaches later in the day this has a late loan with a non-committal permanent option written all over it.
In other Leeds United news, a £439,000 fee comes to Elland Road as a deadline day exit from the club is now complete.