Roma To Sell Two Stars To Zenit For €70 Million

Roma made one of the most important signings of the summer, even if the new man is unable to directly influence the outcome on the pitch.

Back in April, after his departure from Sevilla, Monchi signed a four-year contract with Roma as director of Football.

The former goalkeeper earned plaudits for his knack of purchasing players on the cheap in Seville and then making a significant profit on them when the time came for them to move on.

Júlio Baptista, Dani Alves, Seydou Keita, Adriano, Federico Fazio, Geoffrey Kondogbia, Ivan Rakitic, Aleix Vidal and Carlos Bacca are all prime examples of players bought for small fees and then sold on for big bucks.

Image: PA

And though he's not been in the job at the Stadio Olimpico that long, it appears as though Monchi is already having a positive effect on the club's transfer dealing, as according to Di Marzio, the Giallorossi are set to sell two players to Russian side Zenit St Petersburg for a combined price of 70 million euros.

The first name heading to play under new boss Roberto Mancini is Greek defender Kostas Manolas.

The 26-year old joined Roma in 2014 from Olympiacos for a reported fee of 15 million euros and progressed to become one of the top central defenders in world football in his 130 outings for the club.

Image: PA

Chelsea and Arsenal were both linked, but it is Zenit who are wrapping up his signing.

He will likely be joined in St Petersburg by teammate Leandro Paredes. Roma initially signed the 22-year old on loan from Boca Juniors in 2014, before the Italian side exercised the option to sign him on a permanent basis a year later, the reported fee being €6.067 million.

Image: PA

The Argentina international has attracted interest from the likes of Liverpool and Borussia Dortmund but Zenit are hellbent on bringing him in and adding the sort of guile that was missing in the side last term.

Should the two signings go through, it will add to the funds already raised by Roma through the sale of Mohamed Salah to Liverpool for a £34.6 million fee.

Expect Monchi to continue his astute negotiating in Rome...

Topics: Football, AS Roma, Zenit, Sevilla

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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