Report: Roma Have Agreement in Place for Udinese Keeper Juan Musso

The life of an ordinary, non-elite goalkeeper is precarious at best and volatile at worst. Worldclass keepers like Alisson Becker or Gianluigi Donnarumma can suffer dips in form without fear of losing their job, but your everyday workmanlike keepers aren't so lucky. One misread angle, one botched save, or even a moment's hesitation when coming off your line can cost your job.

That was the case with Pau Lopez last season, who was unceremoniously dumped in favor of 36-year-old journeyman Antonio Mirante last summer, less than a year after making a big-money move to Roma. And while Mirante was up to the task initially, a string of minor injures and some costly errors have seen the now 37-year-old keeper relegated back to the bench.

Lopez and Mirante have had multiple opportunities to make the job their own and have come up short. So, no matter who earns Fonseca's trust down the stretch, it's safe to say that neither keeper is the club's long-term choice in between the sticks.

As a result, much of our transfer rumor coverage has revolved around Roma's search for their keeper of the future. From Alessio Cragno to Marco Silvestri to Alex Meret and even Daniel Fuzato, Roma seems to be casting a wide net in this search.

But, if SportItalia is correct, Roma is already making progress in this pursuit:

Now, SportItalia aren't typically proprietors of transfer rumors, and indeed they carefully couch their language here, but the Italian broadcaster claims that Roma and Udinese have an informal agreement in place for the transfer of Juan Musso, Udinese's 26-year-old Argentine keeper.

Valued at €20 million, Musso figures to be one of the hottest properties on the transfer market this summer and has already been connected with Inter Milan, among other clubs. Given Roma's uncertain financial health and the contractual commitments they have with Lopez and Robin Olsen, both of whom are signed through at least 2023, this “informal” agreement is anything but a sure thing.

Nevertheless, if Roma can clear all those contractual and financial hurdles, Musso could be the first significant signing of new GM Tiago Pinto's regime.

We'll provide updates as they become available, but we can practically guarantee this transfer won't go off without a hitch—expect a litany of denials, new names, new figures, and a whole lot more before the summer transfer season officially begins in July.