Rumour Roundup: Roma Pushing for Atalanta’s Mancini

A truly interesting run of winter games are set to knock on Roma’s door, but we have a long couple of international-break weeks before then.

What better time for a transfer rumour roundup?

Roma Following 20 million-rated Ozan Kabak

It’s a hard task getting YouTube highlights of 18 year-old Kabak that aren’t distorted the sounds of EDM music. The Turkish youngster has barely played at senior level, William Bianda-style, but just a handful of SuperLig appearances for Galatasaray have Ozan Kabak linked with several big European clubs - including AC Milan, Inter Milan and Roma.

On the surface of it, the 6-foot tall defender looks like a subtitute for Kostas Manolas in terms of style.

Kabak clearly isn’t afraid of defending man for man, closing down his opponent with no hesitation. He has pace and an imposing build, while he’s happy to either clear it into the stands or lay it off to the nearest team-mate once Kabak has won back possession.

TuttoMercatoWeb report it’d take an opening offer of 20 million euros to get Galatasaray sitting at the negotiating table.

Monchi to Open January Talks for Atalanta’s Mancini

Photo by Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

If you’ve been following Atalanta in Serie A, you’ve no doubt noticed the recent goalscoring exploits of their Italian defender Gianluca Mancini. Though a centre-back by trade, injuries to Atalanta’s lineup have forced Gasperini to use the 22 year-old at left-back this season.

That’s helped Mancini to a goalscoring run, finding the net in Atalanta’s last 3 consecutive games; and scoring in his two consecutive Serie A seasons spent at Bergamo.

Sportal.It report Monchi is eager to get a jump on Inter and other clubs, seeking a pre-agreement deal with Atalanta in the January window for Mancini. Atalanta aren’t known for doing Roma any favours on the market, but a bidding war for Mancini would guarantee them a significant plusvalenza on a player they signed two year agos for 500,000 euros.

Monchi will be hoping he finds the same kind of agreement that allowed Roma to land Cristante from Atalanta this past summer.

Roma Looking at 18 million-rated Manuel Lazzari

Photo by Mario Carlini / Iguana Press/Getty Images

This is probably one of the more forgettable rumours of the upcoming window - even if Lazzari was praised by Eusebio Di Francesco for his performances last season. EDF was really just tipping his hat to the Cinderella story of Serie A.

SPAL’s Manuel Lazzari once contemplated giving up on professional football after being released by Vicenza back in 2013. The Italian wide midfielder had to reset his career by signing for (then) newly-relaunched club SPAL in the semi professional Lega Pro, and he’s since never looked back.

Lazzari played every promotion-winning season with SPAL, until Roberto Mancini crowned the 24 year old’s career with a senior appearance in the Italy team this past October. Lazzari led the league last season for dribbles and crosses attempted, essentially playing as SPAL’s Diego Perotti.

Lazzari’s international cap now virtually guarantees SPAL will be shopping the winger around for a significant fee next summer. TuttoMercatoWeb report that fee is at least 18 million euros - Napoli and Roma are rumoured to be the interest clubs.