Liverpool have been linked with Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellgrini in recent weeks as a potential replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum, but the Italian international may be more important to stay.
Pellegrini enjoyed his best individual season so far in 2020/21 and it was claimed in Italy in early June that Liverpool had even made a bid of 25 million euros for the 25-year-old.
Barcelona have also been credited with interest, but the latest from the Rome newspaper Corriere dello Sport (CdS) is that Pellegrini prefers to stay at the Stadio Olimpico and follow Giallorossi’s legends such as Francesco Totti and Daniele de Rossi.
Therefore, although Pellegrini is the subject of interest from Liverpool and Barcelona, he would rather agree on a new contract with Roma, his boys’ club.
Pellegrini seems involved in the boys’ club Roma / Soccrates Images / Getty Images
His existing contract will expire in 2022 and a meeting between the player’s camp and Roma boss Tiago Pinto is expected soon. Pellegrini’s agent is currently assumed to be abroad, but the talks will take place during the first two weeks of July.
Before CdS deals with contract renewals, Roma’s priority at the moment explains the sale of players who are considered to be surplus claims by the incoming coach Jose Mourinho.
In addition to Pellegrini, Liverpool have previously been linked with AZ and Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners as a potential replacement for Wijnaldum, while the latest name in the picture is the controversial Aston Villa and Scottish star John McGinn.
Jurgen Klopp admires John McGinn / Visionhaus / Getty Images from Aston Villa
Jurgen Klopp is believed to have been particularly impressed by McGinn after Villa beat Liverpool 7-2 in October last year, and even pressured Andrew Robertson for information about his teammate in Scotland. But the chances of a deal are slim because Villa are desperate not to sell key players.
McGinn also has four years left on the long-term contract he signed recently in December 2020, which gives Villa a lot of control over any negotiations.
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