Reports: Lovren Move Falls Apart

It was just a day ago that many Romanisti were dreading the reported impending transfer of Liverpool center back Dejan Lovren to the Giallorossi. It seemed like a loan move with reported conditional obligation to buy for €25 million was all but a done deal. It was bucket of cold water to the face, after the recent shrewd business of contract extensions for Nicolò Zaniolo and Cengiz Ünder, could Gianluca Petrachi really be that desperate to spend so much money on an injury-riddled, out of favor, 30-year-old center back?

Well, it seems the answer is no. Reports emerged this morning from all the major outlets that the deal that looked so close is now off. The reason: a disagreement over €1 million in bonuses between Lovren and Roma. Gazzetta dello Sport reports that an agreement was made between the two clubs for Roma to take Lovren on loan this season for €3 million. That agreement included a conditional obligation to buy for €12 million if Lovren made 20 appearances while on loan. (So it seems reports yesterday were way off and Petrachi isn’t insane)

As part of the agreement, Lovren would earn a salary of €3.2 million, a drop in pay of about €1 million from the £3.8 million he earns at Liverpool. To make up for this, Lovren wanted Roma to include bonuses that would make up the difference. Roma were unwilling to meet that demand. That was the straw that broke the camels back and with that the deal fell apart.

Now with just over a week before the Serie A campaign starts and just about two weeks until the transfer market closes, Roma are still left with a big hole to fill. Petrachi will be tasked with starting anew in his search for an “experienced, quick center back” as requested by Paulo Fonseca.

Meanwhile, it seems as if Juventus’ Daniele Rugani, who also appeared close to a Roma move, won’t be that man either. Reports from Tuttosport via Football Italia, claim that’s because Rugani didn’t like Roma’s terms. The Giallorossi wanted Rugani on loan with a conditional obligation to buy, only if Roma qualified for the Champions League, while Rugani for wants to be assured of a permanent move.

So, if this report is to be believed, don’t expect Rugani or Lovren to arrive in the capital. Those have been the two names most closely linked with Giallorossi for weeks now, so it’ll be interesting to see which names are thrown into the rumor mill next.