Alajbegovic prioritises Roma but Premier League interest grows

Roma have agreed personal terms with Leonardo Balerdi after securing the departure of Jan Ziółkowski on loan to Monza. The club are now in active negotiations with Marseille over a loan deal with a buy clause that can become mandatory under certain conditions, with the move described as well advanced. Balerdi, 27, is a centre-back who stands 1.88 metres tall and is right-footed. An Argentine international, he came through Boca Juniors before joining Borussia Dortmund in 2019 and moving to Marseille, where he has been a regular since 2020. Roma's proposal to Marseille is structured around a loan with an option to buy that would convert to an obligation if specific conditions are met. The move represents Roma's attempt to add defensive experience to Gian Piero Gasperini's squad after exploring other targets. No transfer fee or the exact conditions triggering a mandatory purchase have been disclosed. The next step depends on Marseille's response and whether the two clubs can find alignment on the structure Roma has proposed.

Roma have approved the sale of Jan Ziółkowski to Monza on loan with a €18 million purchase option. The defender's departure clears the way for the club to pursue Aston Balerdi from Olympique Marseille, with director D'Amico negotiating a loan deal with an obligation to buy, subject to conditions. Bareldi was a genuine target for Roma a year ago, when Marseille rejected a move and demanded €30 million. The two clubs are now in talks over different terms. The Argentine centre-back has already agreed personal terms with Roma, as he had a year prior, and is awaiting confirmation to travel to the capital. His arrival would make Balerdi the fifth Argentine player in Roma's squad.

Roma are targeting Leonardo Balerdi to strengthen their defence as Jan Ziółkowski prepares to leave for Monza. The 27-year-old Argentine centre-back, who rose through Boca Juniors and Borussia Dortmund before establishing himself at Marseille, brings high-level experience and solid international credentials. Balerdi is no conventional stopper of muscle and clearances. His principal strength is his relationship with the ball: he enjoys building from the back, escaping pressure, playing vertical passes and carrying possession out of defence. Last season he ranked among defenders with the highest percentages for completed passes and accuracy in forward play. He is also an aggressive centre-back who prefers to anticipate the striker rather than wait inside the area, and plays with personality and authority — he is comfortable in a three-man defence, where his ability to step up against an attacker plays to his strengths. Yet his asset is also his liability. Balerdi's technical confidence sometimes leads him to attempt one more action than necessary. When an exit goes wrong or he loses position, the error can be costly. This happened repeatedly at Marseille, and the alternation between excellent displays and occasional lapses drew criticism and whistles from the Vélodrome crowd. In short: he is not a faultless defender, but a modern, technical and courageous centre-back. If he can limit his distractions, he can be a player of significant calibre. A right calf injury in March was followed by another in June that forced him to withdraw from Argentina's Copa América squad. The problem appeared resolved during pre-season when he returned to regular action, but in August he felt fresh calf pain and missed Marseille's opening league match against Strasbourg. This does not necessarily signal a fragile player, but it is an aspect Roma will need to examine carefully during medical checks. Compared to Ziółkowski, Balerdi would represent a clear shift: less prospect of future development, but far more immediate experience. He would arrive ready from the start, with quality on the ball and commanding presence.