Roma are prepared to pay Lorenzo Pellegrini twice his existing wage to renew the Italian’s contract, amid interest from Liverpool and Tottenham, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
Jose Mourinho is betting on Pellegrini leading the Stadio Olimpico ranks during his tenure, after taking charge this summer. The Portuguese also intends to accelerate the Giallorossi’s attempts to extend the midfielder’s contract, as negotiations continue to drag on.
Roma want to offer Pellegrini a five-year deal to keep their academy graduate in the Italian capital. They are also willing to double his salary to a net €4m-a-year (£66k-p/w) and will sit down with his agent, Giampiero Pocetta, in the coming weeks to finalise the proposed deal.
Roma and Pocetta’s meeting could arise other possibilities for Pellegrini, that Liverpool and Tottenham will likely monitor for. Calciomercato noted over the summer that both looked into activating the €30m (£26m) release clause in his existing contract.
The Giallorossi want to remove the clause in any renewal, Il Romanista claim, and add that Pellegrini wants a net €4m-a-year salary, which Roma are now inclined to offer. Although Gazzetta suggest aspects could change, such as the length, in order to find a compromise.
Liverpool and Tottenham may not have to wait long to see what future Pellegrini has with Roma, either. That’s because TuttoMercatoWEB note the Giallorossi and Pocetta will meet either this weekend or at the start of next week.
Roma, and Mourinho, will hope negotiations with the 25-year-old’s representative go well, with Pellegrini otherwise a free agent next year. He has started the Serie A season strongly with two goals in as many games. The 18-cap maestro also offered one goal and an assist in the Europa Conference League qualifying round over two legs against Trabzonspor.
Liverpool or Tottenham to deny Mourinho much-adored Roma ace Pellegrini?
Liverpool or Tottenham could have denied Mourinho one of Roma’s biggest stars had they signed Pellegrini this summer. Now, the Premier League rivals may have to hope the Stadio Olimpico outfit and midfield maestro do not agree on the terms to a new contract.
Pellegrini putting pen to paper would likely end the Reds and Spurs’ chances of signing the midfielder next year. While also denying the Merseyside and north London outfits a captain who scored 11 and assisted nine goals last season. And one Mourinho now adores greatly.
“He can do everything,” the Portuguese said, via TMW. “If we had three, all three would play together, I wouldn’t leave even one on the bench.”
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