Assessing AS Roma’s off-season transfer targets

Rudi Garcia will have a lot to be ponder this summer. Back-to-back second place finishes have been a success for Roma, but they remain well behind Juventus in the race for Serie A.

The Giallorossi will hope to close the gap in the summer transfer window with an injection of fresh blood into the squad. Here is a look at Roma’s top transfer targets, who they are, what they can bring to the side and whether they are likely to join the club.

Asmir Begovic

Roma have been looking for a goalkeeper for years. Their current number one, Morgan De Sanctis, turned 38 this year and is certainly not a long-term option for Rudi Garcia. Begovic meanwhile is 11 years younger than the Italian international. The Bosnian star has been at Premier League side Stoke City since January 2010 and has made 160 appearances in his five years at the club. The six foot six inch stopper is famed for his leadership skills and his commanding presence in the box, a skill set that would be invaluable for Roma.

Often the Giallorossi lack a commanding figure at the back with Daniele De Rossi the main leader, despite his position as the deepest of Roma’s three central-midfielders. Begovic is the perfect type of goalkeeper that the team needs and probably the best that they could hope to buy. Begovic has just one year left on his contract and has so far failed to agree a new deal. It seems certain that Begovic will leave Stoke either this year or next, Roma are among his suitors, but they will face tough competition for the commanding Bosnian custodian.

Gregory van der Wiel

The Dutch star has been part of a historic PSG side this season. The Parisian outfit won the domestic treble, but van der Wiel has not been a vital part of the success. Just 72 appearances in three years in the capital is a clear indicator of van der Wiel’s inability to impose himself on the starting XI. The Dutch man is a quick attacking fullback, but is not the most capable in his own third. With Maicon and Ashley Cole, both attacking fullbacks, failing in Rome in recent years it is clear that someone else is needed, but not of the mould of van der Wiel. It is also clear that Dutch manager Louis van Gaal wants to bring his countryman to Manchester United. Roma would not be able to compete with Untied in a bidding war and they should not, van der Wiel is unlikely to join Roma and would more than likely be another fullback flop in the Italian capital.

Juan Cuadrado

Roma look poised to lose their star player of the 2013/2014 season. Gervinho, who set Serie A alight when he first moved to Italy, is on the verge of signing for Abu Dubai side Al Jazira and significantly increasing his income. The Giallorossi are thus on the look out for a new winger. Names such as Nani and Evgen Konoplyanka have been mentioned, but Juan Cuadrado appears to be Roma’s preferred choice. The Colombian excelled in last year’s World Cup and moved to Chelsea from Serie A club Fiorentina for roughly $53 million.

Cuadrado, however, has failed to make an impact in London and has been in and out of the starting XI. His main assets are his pace and trickery, making Cuadrado one of the most exciting players to watch in Europe, particularly with his eye for a spectacular goal. The main stumbling block for this transfer is Chelsea will want to recover a sizeable chunk of the fee they paid earlier this year. This could well result in Roma loaning Cuadrado this season before buying him in 12 months time. This would be a fantastic deal for Garcia who would get a perfect, Serie A proven replacement for Gervinho.

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Romelu Lukaku

The Belgian international is hailed as one of the best young strikers in Europe. Impressive loan spells at West Bromwich Albion and Everton lead to the latter paying a club record fee of $56 million for Lukaku from parent club Chelsea. After a slow start this season, he noticed a respectable 20 goals in all competitions. His impressive physical presence and work rate would suit Roma well and be an effective target for the pacey wide players. Even though Roma signed forwards Seydou Doumbia and Victor Ibarbo in January, neither have made a huge impact in the capital and Garcia is certainly in the hunt for another striker.

The major problem in Lukaku moving to Roma is that, like Chelsea, less than a year ago Everton paid a huge fee for the forward and would want the majority of that back. Roma would most probably be unwillingly to pay a fee that the Merseysiders would find acceptable, but sporting director Walter Sabatini has already stared negotiations with Lukaku’s agent, so a deal could be made. The Belgian could well be the added firepower that Roma need to reach the next level.