Report: Franco Baldini key to potential Jan Vertonghen move to Roma

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Former Tottenham Hotspur technical director Franco Baldini could be key to the club’s Belgian defender deciding to join Roma this summer. 

The experienced stopper is out of contract this summer and it looks increasingly likely that he will not be signing a deal to remain in North London. 

Plenty of Italian teams have been linked with his signature, including Roma. 

Il Messagerro is now reporting that Roma could make a swoop for the player as they are uncomfortable paying the €25 million (£22.6m) Manchester United are asking to make Chris Smalling’s loan move permanent. 

The report also claims that Baldini could help negotiations run smoothly. The former Tottenham director is now a consultant for his former club Roma. He spent two years at Tottenham, signing the likes of Erik Lamela, Christian Eriksen and Paulinho. 

It is suggested his excellent relations with Tottenham and Vertonghen’s entourage could help ease a potential transfer for the 33-year-old to the Stadio Olimpico. He would reportedly be offered a two-year deal with a potential third-year extension and a €3 million-a-year salary.

Tottenham will likely be hoping to keep Vertonghen until the end of the current season, however that is looking increasingly unlikely and Roma now appear to have an advantage over other clubs when making a move for the Spurs defender.