Roma have reportedly joined Newcastle in the race to sign Lucas Vazquez.
According to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, Roma will target a deal for Newcastle target Lucas Vazquez if they can’t land Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez.
Roma have been busy in the transfer market this summer following the appointment of new manager Eusebio Di Francesco, with the likes of Rick Karsdorp, Hector Moreno, Aleksandar Kolarov, Maxime Gonalons, Lorenzo Pellegrini, Cengiz Under and Gregoire Defrel all arriving.
Javier Mashcherano (L) of Barcelona vies for the ball with Lucas Vazquez (C) of Real Madrid
However, Di Francesco remains keen to bring in another right-sided winger, and the Italian giants are strongly pursuing a deal for Leicester City star Riyad Mahrez – though one bid has already failed.
Now, Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Roma have lined up Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez as a top alternative target if they can’t land Mahrez, in news that may be a blow to Newcastle.
Spanish newspaper AS reported over the weekend that Newcastle are hoping to sign Vazquez before this month’s transfer deadline, with Rafael Benitez keen to reunite with the wide man having worked with him at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Vazquez, 25, wasn’t a regular starter for Real last season as he sat behind the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale, but he still managed to post an impressive four goals and 14 assists in all competitions.
Real Madrid’s midfielder Lucas Vazquez (L) vies with Sevilla’s French defender Clement Lenglet
With aspirations of a place in the Spain World Cup squad next summer, Vazquez may need to move on this summer, and Newcastle had been hoping to bring him to St. James’ Park to boost their options.
However, Newcastle are enduring a frustrating summer in the transfer market, and that could get worse if Roma swoop in to land Vazquez, so whilst Mahrez’s future could dictate Newcastle’s hopes of landing Vazquez, the Magpies will need to move quickly either way – something they haven’t been too great at this summer.
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