Barcelona and Manchester United reportedly face Juventus competition in the race to sign AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli in the summer.
According to Fichajes, Juventus have entered the race to sign AC Milan defender Alessio Romagnoli, who is also a transfer target for Barcelona and Manchester United ahead of the summer window.
A product of the AS Roma youth setup, Romagnoli signed for AC Milan in the summer of 2015 and has grown into the captain of the club at San Siro. However, the 27-year-old has lost his place in the starting lineup over the past year or so, with the Rossoneri relying on Simon Kjaer and Fikayo Tomori as their first-choice centre-back pairing.
Romagnoli’s contract with AC Milan expires at the end of the ongoing season, and a new deal is unlikely, leading to an interest in the Italian international’s services ahead of the summer transfer window. The 27-year-old has popped up on the radars of Barcelona and Manchester United, with Juventus also now entering the fray for his signing.
Barcelona already have a deal in place to bolster their defence in the summer, with Andreas Christensen likely to arrive from Chelsea on a Bosman deal. However, with question marks over the futures of other centre-backs like Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Oscar Mingueza, the Blaugrana would need another defender in the upcoming transfer window.
Romagnoli, to that end, has emerged as a transfer target for Barcelona, with his free agency and experience at the top level appealing to Xavi Hernandez’s side. But they have to face competition from Manchester United, who are once again in the transfer market for a new centre-half, despite having invested in a Raphael Varane last summer.
The Frenchman has had a difficult, injury-riddled debut campaign in England, while Victor Lindelof and Harry Maguire have been all over the place as well. With Phil Jones and Eric Bailly likely to move on in the summer, incoming manager Erik ten Hag needs to sign a central defender, with Romagnoli emerging as a target.
Now, Barcelona and Manchester United will have to stave off interest from Juventus in their attempt to land the AC Milan star. The Bianconeri will bid adieu to veteran defender Giorgio Chiellini, who will leave the club at the end of the season when his contract expires. And Massimiliano Allegri’s side are eyeing Romagnoli as a replacement for the senior centre-back.
It remains to be seen who comes out on top in the battle to sign Romagnoli at the end of the season.
