Gregoire Defrel, who has been linked with a move to Liverpool, prefers a move to fellow Serie A side AS Roma instead.
Italian publication Calciomercato report that Gregoire Defrel, who is reportedly a Liverpool transfer target, wants to remain in Serie A and is pushing for a move to AS Roma. Sassuolo have now dropped the forward to the bench until the situation sorts itself out.
Gregoire Defrel is a 25-year-old forward whose stock has been rising these past few seasons. After rising through the ranks at Parma, things didn’t work out for Defrel with the Gialloblu at the senior level and he moved to Cesena after a season on loan at Foggia.
The Frenchman was a central figure for the Cavallucci Marini, and Defrel represented the club for three seasons before making another move within Italy to Sassuolo in 2015.
Talking about Defrel’s game, the forward has excited many with his dribbling abilities and electric pace. However the Frenchman has often flattered to deceive when it comes to the goals resulting from his boots, only netting nine and seven times respectively in the 2014/15 and 15/16 seasons.
This season though, the goal-scoring record has improved marginally for Defrel as he has already scored six goals in the first half of the campaign, with visible improvements with regard to his finishing abilities.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp is reportedly a fan of Defrel’s abilities, having reportedly sent representatives to monitor his progress on multiple occasions. With Daniel Sturridge and Divock Origi proving to be inconsistent up front for Liverpool, and Danny Ings out injured, the Reds are eager to add to their attacking options.
However it now looks like they’re set to lose out in the race to sign Defrel, with the player himself keen to make a fourth permanent move within Italy, this time to AS Roma. The 25-year-old is forcing Sassuolo’s hand, according to the report and Eusebia Di Francesco had to bench Defrel for his side’s trip to Pescara.
The club CEO Giovanni Carnevali has also changed his stance on Defrel in recent weeks, having previously stated that the forward was not on sale, and it looks like the Frenchman may be close to securing a transfer to the Stadio Olimpico.
