Roma to Sign Young Turkish Defender Mert Cetin

While we sit praying that the latest rumor of a Dejan Lovren loan with a likely €25 million obligation to buy doesn’t come to fruition. Gianluca Petrachi is busy making an under the radar move for a central defender with an eye on the future.

After striking gold two summers ago with Cengiz Ünder, Roma have again looked to Turkey for a bargain buy with big upside. The Giallorossi have reportedly signed one of Turkey’s brightest prospects in the form of 22-year-old Mert Cetin. Cetin plied his trade last season with second division Gençlerbirligi. He made 25 appearances while helping his side reach promotion to Turkey’s top league. Cetin has also played for Turkey’s U21 side.

It’s said that the 22-year-old turned down interest from both Fenerbahce and Galatasaray, while choosing to take the next step in his career with Roma. Roma will pay Gençlerbirligi somewhere in the €3.5 million range for the youngster. He is expected to arrive in the capital on Friday for his medical.

This signing doesn’t exclude Roma signing an additional center back. Reports are indicating that a deal for Lovren is imminent, with Lovren already agreeing to personal terms, although a deal with Liverpool has not been reached yet.