The agenda of Tiago Pinto is full of deadlines and fulfillments, there will be no pause for the general director who, just returned from Japan, can only have a few days to rest. In order of importance there is to solve the Karsdorp knot (in the coming days a meeting with the agent is planned), manage the frustration of Mourinho who would like some reinforcement in January, address the issue of renewals, starting with Zaniolo and try to place some surplus players. The coach would like to improve the squad, starting with the arrival of another central defender, who had asked since the summer. The only replacement for the three owners is Kumbulla and apart from Smalling the other two owners, Mancini and Ibanez, have not always given guarantees. A reinforcement has arrived, Solbakken, but Roma would have other priorities, the defender and the quality midfielder, given that to see Wijnaldum on the pitch will have to wait February or March. In the summer the club made an important market and from January with the recovery of Dybala should improve the performance, but the coach would also want more. Roma can’t spend unless there is a costly transfer first and the assumption that the only reinforcement remains Solbakken is not so remote.
Renewals
That of Cristante is practically done, must only be filed and announced. We continue to work on that of Zaniolo. Roma have expressed their intention to extend the contract but have not yet reached a mass: work is still going on, but the signing is still far away. The other issues are not a priority for Roma, not even the adjustment for Zalewski. For Smalling, however, the renewal is automatic after a certain number of matches, but the will of the English will be decisive. El Shaarawy, Matic, Belotti (which has a renewal based on attendance), as well as Wijnaldum and Camara, which are on loan with redemption rights, will also expire in June. No one can be sure of staying.
Karsdorp and disposals
The GM and Mourinho will then have to deal with the thorny issue of Karsdorp in these weeks. The full-back returned to Amsterdam after only a couple of days in the capital, just enough time to support the medical examination requested by Roma. The player is still expected in Trigoria in eleven days, at the restart of training. Pinto is working to find accommodation for the player: there are interests from France and Holland, as well as from Turkey (Fenerbahce is thinking about it), but as long as they are not loans. And speaking of divestments, Shomurodov is looking for a team. The Uzbek is one of the main goals of the Cremonese that looks for ready strikers who can guarantee goals. Torino (and Roma are interested in Lukic), Bologna and Sampdoria also like it. Pinto will meet the agent in the coming days. Valencia wants to deal with the ransom of Kluivert, the GM hopes to cash a dozen million to reinvest in the market. To make Mourinho happy and at the same time respect the agreement signed with UEFA on Financial Fair Play.
