Roma director Petrachi confirms interest in Tottenham star Alderweireld

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The director of AS Roma Gianluca Petrachi has confirmed the club are interested in signing Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld.

Reports have been plentiful in recent days about the Belgian being a possible target for the Italian side.

With Kostas Manolas and Ivan Marcano having both left, I Giallorossi are in need of defensive reinforcements.

And Petrachi has moved to admit there is truth to the speculation.

In quotes obtained by Goal, he said: “I want it to be clear that he [Franco Baldini, ex-director of both Roma and Spurs] is of support to Roma and in the specific case of Alderweireld is an idea to help us save a bit of money. We’d be happy if we could sign him tomorrow without paying the release clause.

“I don’t like to talk about specific players, but obviously with Ivan Marcano and Kostas Manolas sold, we need two centre-backs and that is the priority. We are working on several fronts and have clear ideas on what we intend to do.”

TBR’s view

Alderweireld continues to knuckle down at Tottenham for pre-season.

But one has to imagine it’s unlikely he will still be around beyond August 8.

His £25 million release clause is tantalisingly low, and a player of his calibre would take Roma to the next level.

That said with Roma having only made the Europa League for 2019/20, their interest in £80,000-a-week ace Alderweireld (Spotrac) may not be reciprocated by a player who played in a Champions League final only last month.