Roma cannot catch a break in long-standing negotiations with Paris Saint-Germain over Renato Sanches’ switch to the Stadio Olimpico.
Although all parties are keen to make the deal happen, Les Parisiens are unwilling to let the out-of-favour midfielder leave without receiving guarantees the Giallorossi will help them recoup their investment.
The Italians hoped to sign the 25-year-old on loan with an option to buy.
However, the perennial Ligue 1 champions insist on including performance-related clauses that would trigger a mandatory buyout, as per Calciomercato.
PSG sanctioned Giorgio Wijnaldum’s loan move to Roma last summer, hoping Roma would help them get rid of the Dutchman upon the expiry of his temporary deal.
However, the Serie A giants sent the ex-Liverpool captain back to the Parc des Princes this summer after Jose Mourinho deemed his contribution insufficient, leaving the Paris outfit fuming.
PSG won’t make the same mistake twice as they look to force Roma to change the terms before allowing Sanches to follow the same path.
Sanches passed on the opportunity to ply his trade in Serie A a year ago, turning down an approach from AC Milan to reunite with Christophe Galtier at PSG.
The record-time French champions parted with €15 million to take him away from Lille, only to see him flop in his first season in Paris.
Jose Enrique’s appointment as the new head coach at the end of last season spelt the end of Sanches’ dreadful time in the capital, with the Spaniard ruling him out of both pre-season matches.
Roma are ready to salvage Sanches’ career, although the club’s poor financial situation excludes the possibility of a permanent transfer this summer.
With PSG gunning for an obligation to buy and the Giallorossi hoping for more favourable terms, the deal seems closer to collapsing than going through.
But if the parties find common ground, Sanches would become the second midfielder to swap Ligue 1 for Rome this summer after Houssem Aouar arrived from Lyon.
