Transfer rumor roundup 6/19: Seri agrees to Roma contract
By Nick Pitner
Here’s a roundup of the latest news and transfer rumors surrounding which players could be joining new teams in the coming months.
Monday’s transfer news is led by RMC Sport’s report that Nice midfielder Jean Michael Seri has agreed to a five-year contract with Roma.
The 25-year-old’s agent arrived in Italy on Sunday to hold discussions, which culminated with a pact to see Seri join the Giallorossi long-term.
While that agreement should help Roma’s case, they’ve yet to match Nice’s unofficial €40 million release clause for Seri.
According to the report, the Serie A side have offered €35 million including bonuses, leaving some ground to make up before a transfer can be finalized.
With the player already on board, however, it seems likely that Roma and Nice will be able to find an acceptable fee for the Ivorian, who provided seven goals and nine assists in 34 league matches this past season.
Along with Seri, Roma appear set to sign Feyenoord’s Rick Karsdorp, according to Corriere Dello Sport.
The Dutch right-back traveled to the Eternal City on Monday to undergo a medical and put pen to paper on a five-year contract with the club.
That comes reportedly after Roma and Feyenoord reached an agreement on a transfer fee, clearing the Giallorossi to sign Karsdorp ahead of Inter Milan.
At just 22 years old, Karsdorp has been credited with 14 assists over the past two Eredivisie campaigns.
Whereas Karsdorp and Seri are poised to become teammates, the latter’s soon-to-be-former club are at least anticipated to retain one of their other top contributors.
According to Nice-Matin, Mario Balotelli has decided to stay in the south of France.
That comes after Balotelli registered a career-best 15 league goals this past season, when he was on a one-year contract with Nice.
Although Balotelli was previously linked with a free transfer to Borussia Dortmund once his deal expired at the end of this month, the Italian forward is now expected ink an extension with Nice on Tuesday.
Just outside of Nice, reigning champions Monaco have confirmed the signing of Soualiho Meite from Belgian outfit Zulte Waregem.
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The 23-year-old returns to his home country in an €8 million transfer after starting his career at Auxerre and Lille before spending this past year abroad.
While in Belgium, Meite led the Jupiler League in duels won, which, along with fellow offseason import Youri Tielemans, seemingly gives Monaco cover should Tiemoue Bakayoko and/or Fabinho be sold this summer.
Speaking of Bakayoko, The Guardian reports Chelsea are finally close to securing his services.
The Blues have reportedly been in regular contact with Monaco and Bakayoko’s representatives over a transfer, and will seek to clinch a deal by imminently, offering the French club £40 million.
While that could be enough to book Bakayoko’s ticket to London, Chelsea boss Antonio Conte is also targeting Juventus left-back Alex Sandro.
After an immaculate season while helping Juve do the double, Sandro is now regarded as one of the world’s best players at his position.
That has resulted in the Italian giants slapping a £55 million price tag on Sandro, which Chelsea are reportedly willing to pay despite the presence of Marco Alonso already.