Club chief says he is desperate to offload West Ham and Spurs target Nicolo Zaniolo in next 48 hours due to FFP pressures.
There is absolutely no way back for Hammers and Tottenham Hotspur target Zaniolo at Roma says the club’s chief Tiago Pinto and manager Jose Mourinho overnight.
West Ham boss David Moyes and Tottenham’s Antonio Conte have been heavily linked with a move for Roma outcast Zaniolo.
The Italian playmaker recently fell out with Roma’s fans and demanded to leave, sparking a battle between West Ham and rivals Spurs for his signature.
West Ham put forward a rather unusual long-term loan offer with an obligation to buy him from Roma according to Corriere dello Sport.
Spurs were also said to only be interested in an initial loan while Tottenham were previously alleged to be the “new prince of Rome’s” preferred destination.
As reported by Hammers News this week, Bournemouth came out of nowhere to try and beat West Ham and Tottenham to the playmaker with the offer of a permanent move.
Zaniolo’s agent had a meeting scheduled with the Cherries. But that ended in disaster with the player not even listening to what West Ham’s relegation rivals had to say as he insists on a move to a bigger club.
Yesterday, Roma fans unfurled a giant banner insulting Zaniolo in the Italian capital. Their anger stems – according to Football Italia – from Zaniolo’s decision to reject the lucrative offer from Bournemouth.
West Ham and Spurs reportedly have not given up on signing the ‘extraordinary’ talent according to Media Foot.
And it seems they will have a chance before the window closes according to the main men at Roma.
Their club chief says he is desperate to offload West Ham and Spurs target Zaniolo in next 48 hours due to FFP.
Both Pinto and Mourinho have said there is no way back for the player now.
West Ham and Spurs will surely be looking to cut a deal as Pinto admitted he hopes Zaniolo will agree to leave the club with Roma under serious pressure to satisfy Financial Fair Play rules.
“I have no problem answering that question, now everyone knows what happened. Nicolò asked the club to leave, along with his agent we tried in every way to find a solution, this solution arrived and might not Nicolò might not be very happy with the solution,” Tiago Pinto told DAZN.
“We’re all in a difficult situation now, because he put in the transfer request and with all the Financial Fair Play parameters we have around us, we cannot afford to just accept Zaniolo saying no and us signing a replacement.
“There are 48 hours to go in the transfer window, we’ll see what happens, but it is truly a difficult situation for the club and everyone.”
Mourinho doubled down on the future of the West Ham and Tottenham target, stating: “When you are not happy in a family situation, you have to leave, you have to find a solution. Family is for those who want to be there.”
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