Roma could sign Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac for as little as £5 million because of the excellent relationship between the Premier League and Serie A giants, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
On paper it doesn’t make a great deal of sense to sell a 27-year-old international for such a paltry sum – especially when the 27-year-old international in question made 32 appearances last season.
Looking at the situation a little more closely, however, and there appears to be some method in the perceived madness.
After all, Kolasinac is no longer Arsenal’s first-choice left-back following the emergence of Kieran Tierney.
Ainsley ‘Mr Versatile’ Maitland-Niles also performed brilliantly in a previously unfamiliar position during the FA Cup clashes with Manchester City and Chelsea earlier this summer, with his increasingly dependable displays earning him the trust of coach Mikel Arteta.
Kolasinac had filled in at times in a new-look left-sided centre-half role but the permanent signings of Pablo Mari and Gabriel Magalhaes (confirmation pending) mean he’s hardly the primary option there either.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport, the former Schalke defender has wanted to play in Italy for years and Roma could agree a deal on reduced terms because of the club’s close relationship with Arsenal.
The Giallorossi confirmed the signing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan on Sunday after Arsenal cancelled his contract, while talks are also ongoing over a swap deal involving Amadou Diawara and Lucas Torreira.
Kolasinac, who could replace the Inter Milan-bound Aleksandar Kolarov at Roma, would also earn Arsenal a sizeable profit – he joined the Gunners on a free transfer in 2017.
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