Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur look set to miss out on Denis Zakaria with Corriere dello Sport claiming the Bundesliga star has agreed a move to Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
The Switzerland international midfielder’s future appears to be tied inextricably to, well, the future of another Switzerland international midfielder.
Zakaria, if reports are to be believed, was Arsenal’s number one pick to replace Granit Xhaka at the Emirates when the former Gunners skipper seemed to have one foot and four toes out the door a few weeks ago.
Xhaka had emerged as Mourinho’s top target as the veteran tactician hunted a powerhouse playmaker to beef up his lightweight Roma side.
But with Xhaka now staying at Arsenal – the ink still drying on the contract – it’s understood Jose has turned his attention to Zakaria instead.
Jose Mourinho to beat Tottenham and Arsenal to Zakaria
An agreement has been reached between player and club, according to Corriere dello Sport.
The Borussia Monchengladbach ace will sign a four-year deal worth about £32,000 a week at the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma and Gladbach have still to agree on a fee, however, with the Italian giants reluctant to pay a penny more than £17 million at this stage.
A compromise should be reached before long, though, as Gladbach would prefer to cash in on Zakaria now than lose him for nothing when the 24-year-old becomes a free agent in summer 2022.
A buccaneering, box-to-box dynamo in the mould of Abdoulaye Doucoure, Zakaria has also been linked with Everton.
According to BILD, Tottenham were keen too, although the London giants appear to be closing in on an initial loan deal for the similarly stylish Pape Matar Sarr instead.
“We’re in advanced talks with Tottenham for Sarr, yes, but it’s not done yet. (The) final fee will be higher than €10 million,” Metz president Bernard Serin told Amazon at the weekend.
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