Jose Mourinho has put AS Roma in the transfer rumor conversation as he reportedly intends to beat Barcelona in the race for the signing of a €27-million-rated Bundesliga midfielder next season.
The Special One has had a positive start to life in the Italian capital as his side sits fourth in the 2021-22 Serie A standings with a quite decent record (W5 L2). But Mourinho is not the kind of manager who settles with acceptable results, his ambitions are always much higher.
That's why the highly praised Portuguese coach, who is is determined to have a successful tenure at Stadio Olimpico, is looking forward to adding more firepower to Roma, approaching a player who's on Barca's shortlist.
Jose Mourinho reportedly intends to bring Barcelona's target valued at €27m to AS Roma
The La Liga giants are battling with a financial crisis that disallows them to make expensive signings, which forces them to look for cheaper options. Barca were linked with AC Milan star Franck Kessie, who runs out of contract next summer, for instance.
But they are also believed to be interested in Borussia Monchengladbach's Denis Zakaria. The Switzerland international is valued at €27 million but his deal expires at the end of the season as well, which makes him a feasible target for the Cules.
However, Il Corriere dello Sport reports that Jose Mourinho would like to bring the 24-year-old holding midfield to AS Roma. Zakaria is a defensive-minded player who stands out for his ability to win the ball back in the middle of the park. If he refuses to extend his stay in Germany, he will probably have a number of offers over the table, with Roma and Barca as potential destinations.
