Tottenham Hotspur’s attempts to part ways with Radu Drăgușin have hit something of a pause.
AS Roma have been keen on the defender for weeks, however, despite a lot of talk they haven’t come close to pleasing Spurs. The price Spurs want is €25m, and we all know that because the player’s agent Florin Manea told everyone a week ago.
At that time, Fiorentina had moved into the picture for Drăgușin. La Viola are fighting against relegation and the plan was Fabio Paratici would help get them the defender. Manor Solomon had already arrived in Florence from Tottenham and the plan was to get another.
However, moving from Thomas Frank’s squad to a relegation battle is not what Drăgușin or his agent had in mind. Manea went public to talk his client up in typical style.
“I’m waiting for Tottenham to say yes to Roma before getting to the heart of the matter,” the agent said.
“There are a couple of offers for him, but Italy is special for Radu. He’s done very well in Serie A. He’s a gladiator, and gladiators thrive in Rome.
“Fiorentina? With all due respect, that wouldn’t be the right path for him. He costs €25m.”
Manea spoke again the next day about his gladiator and waiting for Tottenham: “The decisive days will be between today and tomorrow. I’d like to avoid talking, but we hope to reach a conclusion in the negotiations with Roma.”
Tottenham transfer has paused
Since then not a great deal has happened. Roma would prefer a loan with an option, which doesn’t interest Tottenham
The Serie A club have just signed Donyell Malen from Aston Villa. They’d originally wanted to loan him but interest from Atletico Madrid pushed them into offering a better deal.
That’s been tried with Drăgușin. First with Fiorentina, which the agent killed, and then with RB Leipzig, which the German club have extinguished.
As reported by RBLive, talk of an offer to Spurs from RB Leipzig is ‘not entirely accurate’. The German club have been offered Drăgușin but haven’t moved forward. There’s a belief the claim is ‘is likely nothing more than the result of the player’s agents’ work’.
Another issue comes via Sunday’s edition of Tuttosport. After committing to the permanent deal for Malen, Roma need to shed players before bringing more in.
One of those is Kosta Tsimikas, on loan from Liverpool, and the other is Leon Bailey. Aston Villa loaned the latter to Roma but he’s had a disastrous time with multiple fitness problems.
Frustrating for Tottenham.
Update: A stroke of luck may have just arrived for Spurs. Mario Hermoso, one of Roma’s regular central defenders, was forced off on Sunday against Torino. He left the pitch in the first half and there’s initial fears of a groin injury.