Roma are interested in four Premier League defenders as they bid to reinforce their backline with Aston Villa’s Ron Vlaar and Liverpool’s Glen Johnson
Leandro Castan is a long-term absentee after undergoing brain surgery while summer recruit Ashley Cole has struggled to hold down a place in the side after a less than impressive start to life in Italy.
Now Gazzetta dello Sport claims that the Giallorossi are set to return to England to sure up their defence with Aston Villa captain Vlaar and Liverpool full-back Johnson being their main targets.
Both players are available for free at the end of the season as their contracts are set to expire, but Manchester United, Arsenal and Southampton have all been linked with €10 million moves for Vlaar as early as January.
Villa manager Paul Lambert has hinted that the 29-year-old wants to leave the club, despite his desire to see him stay.
“We have been speaking with Ron and the message from his agent was thanks but no thanks,” he told the BBC and the British press.
“I’d love to keep him… [but] the options are open for Ron because he’s in his last year.”
Other options that have been touted for Roma include Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross and Vlad Chiriches of Tottenham Hotspur, but the possibility of signing Vlaar and Johnson for free makes them more attractive propositions for Rudi Garcia’s side.
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