Roma keen on Vermaelen, Ranocchia

Serie A outfit AS Roma are in the market for defensive reinforcements, Il Corriere dello Sport has learned.

The Giallorossi have agreed to sell Alessio Romagnoli to AC Milan, while Mapou Yanga -Mbiwa is nearing a switch to Lyon.

This means that Kostas Manolas and Leandro Castan are the only remaining central defenders in the squad, so no wonder AS Roma officials are actively looking for defensive reinforcements.

A number of quality players are currently on club’s hit-list, but it looks as though Lorenzo Tonelli and Gabriel Paletta will not be moving to Stadio Olimpico.

Inter’s Andrea Ranocchia appears to be a realistic target seeing as he is not exactly an undisputed member of the squad at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Meanwhile, Roma could make a move on Barcelona defender Thomas Vermaelen, with a season-long loan with an option to buy an arrangement that could be appealing to all three sides.