Roma, Sassoulo Working on Final Details for Defrel

Mondays typically go one of two ways: they’re either hellaciously boring and slow, or completely manic, leaving you no time to digest the day’s events. In either case, Garfield was right, Mondays are lame. However, as far as the Roma rumor mill is concerned, it’s been a rather dull affair. We awoke to news that Monchi and Beppe Marotta may have met last week for Kostas Manolas, annnnd that’s pretty much been it; all is quiet on the Roma front, maybe everyone is tired from Game of Thrones last night.

There was, however, one minor update on a move we’ve been tracking since winter first came, the will he or won’t he arrival of Gregoire Defrel, Sassuolo’s leading scorer from last season, a point not lost on Luciano Spalletti, who lusted after the Frenchman last winter only to be left disappointed when Roma refused to meet the Neroverdi’s asking price.

My how times have changed. With Mohamed Salah loving life in Liverpool, Roma are lacking in firepower upfront, and while many assumed Domenico Berardi would be priority number one this summer, those rumors have died off rather suddenly, and quite completely. In his wake, Roma have began to chase Riyad Mahrez, who, though he may be an ideal fit, may prove cost prohibitive for the Giallorossi. But, just as he’s done since the winter, Defrel is lurking in the shadows, tantalizing Roma with his nose for goal.

Well, it seems as though Roma and Sassuolo are done dancing, as they have reportedly agreed to the framework of a €20 million deal, which may or may not include an additional €3 million in bonuses, which has proven to be the sticky wicket, as the two clubs haggle over how much Roma will have to pay upfront versus the backend.

In the end, though, it seems like this deal is all but a formality, leaving us with only one lingering question—when and where will Defrel play? Is he merely a vice-Dzeko, or will he see significant time on either of the wings?

Either way, given the protracted nature of this move, we can safely assume Eusebio Di Francesco specifically requested him, otherwise, why put up with all this hassle?