Alvaro Morata’s agent Juanma Lopez is heading to Italy to meet Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto and try to finalise the Spaniard’s arrival from Atletico Madrid.
According to Corriere dello Sport, talks between the player’s agent and the Giallorossi chief executive are scheduled for Monday after the parties reached a verbal agreement over the weekend.
Sunday’s report from the same publication claimed Morata has already accepted Giallorossi’s contract offer worth €4.5 million per year after holding private discussions with Jose Mourinho.
The former Juventus forward is close to penning a contract extension, which sole purpose is to facilitate his summer exit by lowering his release clause from €20m to €12m.
Roma have identified the 30-year-old as a fall-back option in case their long-standing negotiations with West Ham United over Gianluca Scamacca’s return to Italy fall flat.
Since they’ve been unable to strike a deal with the Hammers despite the forward’s desire to return to his boyhood club amid AC Milan’s interest, the Italians have opted for Morata.
The beaten Europa League finalists’ U-turn may have also been influenced by the Spain international’s impressive exploits across two separate stints at Juventus.
Morata boasts vast Serie A experience, having spent four years across two different spells at the Allianz Stadium before returning to Atletico last summer.
However, he has fallen out of favour with Los Colchoneros boss Diego Simeone, who has deemed him surplus to requirements and allowed other clubs to pursue his signature.
Roma are close to seizing the opportunity as they seek a reliable centre-forward option to fill the vacant spot left by Tammy Abraham’s nasty-looking ACL injury.
With the Englishman facing a lengthy period in the treatment room, Andrea Belotti remains Mourinho’s only senior option in the front third next to Paulo Dybala.
Dybala is one of the critical reasons behind Morata’s decision to refuse Juventus’ approach to take him back to Turin, as he’s been trying to talk his ex-teammate to join him at the Stadio Olimpico.
AC Milan and Inter Milan have also considered moves for the 2023 Nations League winner, but Roma may soon put their rivals’ hopes to bed.
