Roma Take an Interest in Bayer Leverkusen Starlet | OneFootball

Roma were already keeping tabs on Kerim Alajbegovic, and his stellar performance against Italy further enticed them to try to sign him in the summer. The 18-year-old is currently at RB Salzburg, but Bayer Leverkusen exercised their €8M buy-back clause. He’ll return to Germany in June.

According to Corriere dello Sport (via Calciomercato), the recent turn of events doesn’t completely nix his transfer in the next window. However, Die Aspirin would need to be compensated profusely for that to happen. The Giallorossi would have to tender €20M or so to have a real shot.

Roma are seriously weighing targeting Alajbegovic. They face some financial limitations, but their owners love acquiring prodigies. They have invested a lot in U-24 players in recent years. Their lone permanent January addition was Robinio Vaz.

The 18-year-old Bosnian talent has registered 11 goals and 3 assists in Austria this campaign, his maiden one among the pros fresh off Bayer Leverkusen’s academy. He has eight caps with Bosnia’s senior team.

The Giallorossi have shortlisted the starlet among the candidates to replace Paulo Dybala. Boca Juniors aren’t his only suitors. Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Flamengo are also waiting in the wings to see whether he’ll really depart on a free and would likely propose larger contracts.

Our Take on Roma and Alajbegovic

Gian Piero Gasperini has been slow and careful in grooming youngsters this campaign, probably because he wanted to assert himself first, but he’s surely masterful in that. The attacker looked like a million bucks against Italy, surely catching the attention of many teams. It’s entirely possible that Die Aspirin will just lean on him for a year or two, unless a big bid bowls them over.