Roma are preparing to place Jordan Veretout on the transfer market this summer after the reported Newcastle United target fell out of favour at the Serie A side with Jose Mourinho.
That’s according to Calciomercato, who note the Giallorossi are keen to sell the Frenchman at the end of the season. Veretout had begun Mourinho’s Stadio Olimpico tenure as one of their key men last summer, but is now viewed as one of their ‘most disappointing’ players.
His decline marks a drastic drop off for the 29-year-old, who turned down a €4.5m-a-year (£72k-a/w) contract a year ago. Roma wanted to lock the five-cap international down with a long-term deal. Yet Veretout snubbed their proposal as he believed he could earn more.
Now, Veretout – whose current terms expire in 2024 – likely faces a future away from the Italian capital. Roma will not ask for a King’s ransom, either, with the Serie A side seeking just €15-18m (£12.5-£15m) for the midfielder, who Marseille are on pole position to sign.
Marseille have enjoyed success in past markets shopping in Trigoria and hope to dip back into the Stadio Olimpico ranks. But the Ligue 1 side may face competition from Serie A and the Premier League, as Calciomercato recently cited Napoli and Newcastle as rival suitors.
Roma slash Jordan Veretout asking price as Newcastle eye summer transfer
Newcastle, Napoli and Marseille are the three most likely clubs to agree a deal with Roma for Veretout’s summer transfer. But the Toon and Azzurri now have some ground to make up on Les Phoceens. Especially if the Magpies want to sign Eddie Howe’s long-term target.
Veretout has been on Howe’s radar since 2015, having sought to sign him from Nantes for Bournemouth, per Birmingham Live. But the midfielder was set on joining Aston Villa over the Cherries for £8m. And he again fell through Howe’s fingers in the recent January sales.
Newcastle explored adding Veretout to Howe’s side during the winter, with Foot Mercato noting they prepared Roma a transfer offer. But the Giallorossi rebuffed their advances by wanting €25-30m (£21-25m), per Calciomercato, almost double what they will now accept.
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