Jose Mourinho wants Ruben Loftus-Cheek reunion at Roma

Jose Mourinho wants a reunion with Ruben Loftus-Cheek to complete his new-look Roma team, with the Serie A giants working on a loan deal that will include a £13.5m option to buy

• Jose Mourinho wants to be reunited with Ruben Loftus-Cheek at Roma
• The Portuguese boss worked with the midfielder in his second Chelsea spell
• He is after a creative midfielder to complete his Roma team before the deadline
• Miralem Pjanic and Denis Zakaria were targets but proved to be too expensive
• Roma will look to take Loftus-Cheek on a loan deal, with a £13.5m option to buy 

Roma boss Jose Mourinho is plotting to raid his former club Chelsea again after earmarking Ruben Loftus-Cheek as his No 1 target before the transfer window shuts next week.

The Serie A club have already spent close to £90million this summer – including on £34m Blues striker Tammy Abraham – but are willing to make one more investment to complete Mourinho’s new-look side.

The Portuguese manager wants a creative midfielder who would suit his project at Roma and Loftus-Cheek, a player Mourinho worked with briefly in his second stint at Chelsea, has emerged as a key target.

Jose Mourinho wants to sign Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek to complete his Roma team

According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma have made an approach to Chelsea and their transfer chief Tiago Pinto is working hard on trying to complete a deal over the next few days.

Loftus-Cheek, who spent last season on loan at Fulham, is not currently in the first-team picture at Chelsea and will likely be allowed to leave if a deal can be struck.

The 25-year-old was not the only player considered by Roma, with the Italian side also weighing-up a move for Miralem Pjanic. It is understood the Bosnian would gladly return to Rome from Barcelona, but his wage demands are too high.

Borussia Monchengladbach’s Denis Zakaria was also on Roma’s list, but he is a more of a defensive-minded midfielder and was valued at £17m despite his deal running out next year. Roma were only willing to pay half that this summer. 

Mourinho knows Loftus-Cheek, having worked with him in his second stint at Chelsea

Denis Zakaria (left) and Miralem Pjanic were targets for Roma but proved to be too expensive

That made Loftus-Cheek the cheapest and most realistic target. Roma are understood to be exploring a loan deal with the option to buy him permanently for £13.5m.

Loftus-Cheek would become the second arrival this summer from Chelsea if Roma can get the deal over the line, following Abraham who marked his debut last week with two assists and received a standing ovation from his new supporters.

Roma, however, may need to offload one of their fringe midfielders to free up a space first before they can push ahead with a deal for England international Loftus-Cheek.

Gonzalo Villar and Amadou Diawara are two players that Roma will look to try and sell before the transfer window closes in six days’ time.

Loftus-Cheek would be the second arrival from Chelsea at Roma after Tammy Abraham joined

Share this article

Source: Read Full Article