In a thrilling development for AS Roma, the club is on the verge of sealing the deal for Ukrainian striker Artem Dovbyk. The director of sports, Florent Ghisolfi, traveled to Girona, Spain, on a mission to finalize the transfer, reminiscent of a secret agent due to his dark sunglasses and briefcase filled with documents.
After a dinner meeting with Dovbyk and discussions with Girona’s management, Ghisolfi seems set to announce a successful transfer, which has faced challenges comparable to last season’s protracted negotiations for Romelu Lukaku with Chelsea. By today, following a final meeting scheduled for the morning, Dovbyk, who was the top scorer in La Liga, is expected to join the Giallorossi.
The momentum behind this move increased significantly yesterday. Girona responded to Roma’s improved offer of €32 million plus €6 million in bonuses with a counterproposal of €35 million plus €5 million. This is in light of Roma’s previous bid, which Atletico Madrid had also matched but eventually fell through due to Dovbyk’s change of heart.
Ghisolfi’s mission gained further traction with the presence of Dovbyk’s agent, Alex Liundovskyi, who had already secured a five-year deal with Roma worth €3 million per season. Legal consultant Alona Iurchenko also joined the duo to finalize the contact details. The negotiations are trending toward a resolution that could raise the fixed part of the offer to €34 million, with an additional €4 million in bonuses, making it the stepping stone to a complex but ultimately promising arrangement.
Dovbyk has made his intentions clear over the past few days, choosing Roma as his priority. He signed a contract with Roma, dismissed Atletico, and informed Girona of his desire to leave for the Italian club. With recent signings and player extensions at Roma, Dovbyk is expected to land in the capital soon.
Once the deal is officially announced, he will become Roma’s third most expensive signing in history, surpassing Gabriel Batistuta’s record slightly and becoming the second most significant of the Friedkin era, following Tammy Abraham. The club’s CEO, Lina Souloukou, reassured fans about the ongoing investments being made in the squad amid heightened anticipation surrounding Dovbyk’s signing.
As for Abraham, he may have to surrender his number 9 jersey for Dovbyk. Reports indicate that he has agreed to a transfer to AC Milan, with Roma looking for at least €25 million from the deal. The club aims to use this influx to further strengthen their squad, particularly looking to bolster their right flank and potentially bringing in players like Marc Pubill from Almeria and Brazilian talent Wesley Gassova.
Before proceeding with these new targets, Roma is keen to announce Dovbyk’s signing to integrate him into the team’s preparations for their upcoming training camp in England. Ghisolfi’s mission now seems more attainable than ever, promising excitement and satisfaction for fans and players alike.