Liverpool and Tottenham are reportedly prepared to trigger the €30 million release clause to sign Lorenzo Pellegrini from AS Roma this summer.
According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur seem to be stepping up their efforts to sign Lorenzo Pellegrini in the summer transfer window. The Premier League heavyweights are ready to trigger his €30 million release clause amid his talks over a new deal with AS Roma.
Pellegrini has come into his own since returning to AS Roma from Sassuolo in the summer of 2017. Over this period, he has gone from strength to strength while also establishing himself as a full-fledged Italian international. At the same time, the 24-year-old has also been promoted to the role of club captain.
A mainstay in midfield for the Giallorossi, Pellegrini is currently facing an uncertain future at Stadio Olimpico since the appointment for Jose Mourinho as the new manager. While talks over a renewal are underway, Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are making the effort to swoop him away from Roma by triggering his €30 million exit clause.
The interest from Liverpool is not unfounded, as the Reds are in the market for a replacement for Georginio Wijnaldum. The Dutch international has departed Anfield as a free agent, joining PSG on a Bosman move. Therefore, it is imperative that Liverpool sign a central midfielder, and for good reason.
Jordan Henderson, Thiago Alcantara and Fabinho are expected to be the first-choice midfielders, with Curtis Jones waiting in the wings as well. But with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita struggling to make an impact in recent times and James Milner in the twilight of his career, the pursuit of Pellegrini is understandable.
Tottenham, on the other hand, are also keen on bolstering their midfield this summer, seeing as Dele Alli is facing an uncertain future at the club while Moussa Sissoko is on the wrong side of 30. Either way, the need to sign a midfielder makes sense. To that end, Manuel Locatelli has popped up on their radar, with his fellow Italian international Pellegrini emerging as a target as well.
Liverpool and Tottenham now seem to be stepping up their efforts to sign Pellegrini, triggering the €30 million release clause could well be on the cards. Having said that, the Italian international is unlikely to leave if a suitor goes through the route of shelling out the €30 million sum. However, it remains to be seen if either Liverpool or Tottenham can do anything to turn his head.
