Wolves are pricing Roma out of a deal to sign Leander Dendoncker as Jose Mourinho strives to improve his midfield after missing out on Granit Xhaka, per Calciomercato.
Giallorossi CEO Tiago Pinto is assembling a list of potential alternatives to the Arsenal midfielder. Mourinho is adamant the Stadio Olimpico outfit most improve their engine room ahead of beginning the new Serie A season at home to Fiorentina on August 22.
Arsenal rejected Roma’s approaches for Xhaka, who Sky Sports now report is close to agreeing a new contract. Pinto has three targets on his radar who could instead improve Mourinho’s options after adding Dendoncker to Teun Koopmeiners and Denis Zakaria.
But Wolves are pricing Roma out of a deal to sign Dendoncker as they want €25m (£21.5m) for the Belgian. Pinto cannot afford the Molineux outfit’s valuation without a raft of sales. The Giallorossi have already secured one deal with Wolves this summer in Rui Patricio.
Roma’s difficulties to afford Dendoncker right now could also see the Wolves star rise on Pinto’s shortlist later this summer. Gazzetta dello Sport report Napoli also want Zakaria, while Alfredo Pedulla notes Atalanta want Koopmeiners.
Aston Villa midfielder Douglas Luiz is also an option for Roma, according to Calciomercato, but he would cost €30m (£25.5m). Marginally more than Dendoncker, who was a favourite of Nuno Espirito Santo last season. The 26-year-old started 28 of 33 Premier League games.
Dendoncker additionally opened all three of Wolves’ FA Cup fixtures and their sole Carabao Cup tie. Bruno Lage will likely hope to retain the £75,000-per-week technician for his first year at Molineux. But Roma are yet to shut the door completely on a summer pursuit.
Wolves could lose ‘terrific’ Dendoncker to Roma
Wolves would lose one of their top-draw operators if Pinto raises the funds for Roma to sign Dendoncker. Lage’s outfit have set their price for Mourinho’s to meet, and Pinto’s alternatives could fall out of contention.
The Molineux outfit would turn a profit by selling Dendoncker for £21.5m. The Black Country side paid Anderlecht £12m to retain the midfielder in 2019 after a successful spell on loan. After which former Sporting Director Kevin Thelwell claimed, via talkSPORT:
“Since he broke into the team, he’s been terrific. He’s very professional, very honest and very hard-working, so he fits the team perfectly.”
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