Juventus Eyes Tagliafico, Roma's Sell-On Clause, and Milan's Transfer Plans
On the day Matteo Darmian made his choice to return to Serie A, the football world buzzed with news surrounding the league's prominent clubs, even in the absence of matches. Juventus is reportedly maintaining a strong interest in Nicolas Tagliafico, the Lyon left-back who nearly joined the Bianconeri at the end of August. However, Atletico Madrid is also in pursuit of Tagliafico, as they lack a natural left-back to rotate with their starter, Grimaldo.
Meanwhile, intermediaries have presented Teun Koopmeiners to AC Milan, but the Dutch midfielder does not seem to excite the Rossoneri management. With Koopmeiners' time at Juventus appearing to be winding down, the club is eager to find him a new destination. Milan is expected to seek midfield reinforcements in January, but Koopmeiners is not currently at the top of their list.
In Belgium, Andy Diouf's performance at left-back during the France-Belgium match has drawn mixed reactions from the media. Former World Cup-winning defender Samuel Umtiti was particularly critical, noting Diouf's struggles in adapting to the position. Umtiti remarked, "It was obvious he wasn’t used to that position," highlighting the challenges Diouf faced in anticipating plays and arriving late in others. Umtiti emphasized the need for Diouf to work on his positioning, which may prove difficult given his attacking mindset.
In other news, Alessandro Buongiorno returned to training at Castel Volturno, marking the first in-person meeting between him and Massimiliano Allegri since Buongiorno's surgery in mid-July. Their prior communication had been limited to phone calls, as Buongiorno's recovery coincided with the start of the summer training camp in Dimaro.
Roma has retained a 10% sell-on clause for Alessandro Romano, which applies to any future transfer fee above the €5 million Cagliari paid to acquire him. This clause could become significant as several Serie A and foreign clubs have already expressed interest in the midfielder.
That's the Call
As reported by Il Messaggero, Lazio is set to assess its financial standing today, a crucial step in determining its labor cost ratio ahead of the winter transfer window. The Biancocelesti are unlikely to drop below a ratio of 0.7, which would allow them a free market. If their current ratio of 0.82 improves, they could approach a break-even point, but without progress, they risk facing another total block on transfers. The official verdict on their financial status will be revealed in December.
Fiorentina is looking to renew David De Gea’s contract, despite the goalkeeper's current deal running until 2028. De Gea's experience is deemed vital for a squad that is predominantly young. Discussions regarding a potential extension are expected to take place in the coming months, with the financial details still to be finalized, as De Gea currently earns €3 million net annually.
