AS Roma are in talks with Leonardo Bonucci over a proposed January transfer, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, with Union Berlin apparently prepared to let the veteran defender leave for free six months before his contract expires.
The Giallorossi are facing a heavy injury crisis in their defensive ranks. Marash Kumbulla (ACL) and Chris Smalling (Tendonitis) haven’t played in months, and with Evan Ndicka set to go off to represent the Ivory Coast at the upcoming African Cup of Nations, head coach Jose Mourinho will only have Gianluca Mancini and Diego Llorente available from the current centre-back crop in the coming period. An injury to either of them would obviously spell disaster, unless a new player arrives to ease the concern.
That’s why Mourinho is very keen to for Bonucci to make the move to the Italian capital, and he wants him in his squad before the first league game of 2024, against Atalanta on January 7th. There are no issues with Union, whose European campaign ended with a Champions League exit after the group stage – they don’t believe they need Bonucci anymore, but the contract the 36-year-old would sign with Roma is still being discussed.
Apparently, the club have offered a six-month deal with an automatic 12-month extension in case Mourinho’s team qualifies for next season’s Champions League, while Bonucci wants a contract valid for 18 months with no conditions, along with a promise of regular game-time.
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