Roma’s interest in Lorenzo Lucca has been confirmed by manager Claudio Ranieri, who recently stated, “We’re following him. He’s a good player, who knows…” This acknowledgment has fueled speculation about a potential move for the Udinese striker.
Calciomercato report that Udinese’s initial asking price for Lucca is between 20-25 million euros, though there’s room for negotiation. Roma initiated contact with the player’s representatives in mid-January, but no official offer has been tabled yet. The Giallorossi are first looking to offload Shomurodov, who is close to joining Venezia.
Interestingly, Udinese have shown interest in Roma’s Baldanzi, which could potentially be factored into negotiations. Roma might also propose a loan deal with an obligation to buy. However, Udinese’s sporting director Nani has attempted to quell transfer rumors, stating, “Selling him in January is not a priority.”
While Milan, Juventus, and an unnamed Premier League club are also in the running, Roma may have an edge due to the relationship between Ghisolfi and Riso. The latter are working behind the scenes to lower Lucca’s price tag. Should the deal for Lucca fall through, Raspadori remains an alternative target for Roma.
Lucca’s development during his time in the Netherlands with Ajax, where he played alongside Rensch, has been notable. The striker has matured both on and off the pitch, as evidenced by his own words: “In the locker room, I used to be more of a joker, always messing around. Now I continue to joke, but I’ve become more serious, composed. Off the field, I don’t make mistakes anymore. Nothing serious, but before I used to ‘party’, go to many more celebrations. Now I’m capable of not leaving the house for four months.”