Roma Would Be The Maximum - Di Michele

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One of Roma's problems in past seasons as they challenged Inter for the Scudetto was the lack of a strong center forward. Ahead of the new season, in fact, it's a striker the Giallorossi are looking for to bolster their squad.

There was allegedly an interest for Real Madrid's Julio Baptista, but the player's agent denied that there has been any contact.

Another striker who has been frequently linked with a move to Roma over the years is David Di Michele, currently at Torino. The former Reggina, Udinese and Palermo player gave an interview to Rome newspaper 'Il Romanista' in which he admitted he was flattered by the possibility of an interest from Roma.

"I've read a lot of stories on the papers," he said. "Let's hope these rumours will become more concrete in the near future. But I must admit Roma would be the maximum for me."

Before last season with Torino, the striker had regularly managed to score more than 10 goals in the top flight, although he is known as a bit of a hot-head. He has also made six appearences with the national team under Marcello Lippi.

Danilo Pochini

Roma Have Made No Baptista Contact – Agent

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Baptista is certain to leave Real Madrid this summer as he is not in coach Bernd Schuster’s first team plans. Over the past week or so, there have been almost constant reports over a proposed transfer of the 26-year-old to Roma, and the Italian and Spanish press have claimed that a deal will almost certainly go through very soon.

However, Baptista’s agent, Herminio Menendez, has now sensationally claimed that, despite all these reports, Roma have made no contact with anyone about buying ‘The Beast’.

"Roma have not spoken with me and I must say that there is a lot of confusion in this situation,” Herminio Menendez told Laromasiamonoi.it.

“If Roma do not meet with Real Madrid or with me, it is impossible to start negotiations. Throughout the week there has been talk about Baptista going to Roma.

“Currently, Julio is a Real Madrid player but, I repeat, no one has spoken with me or with Real.

“In Italy it is said that the two parties are very close. Even the [Spanish] daily Marca said that everything is done.

“However, this is not true. No one, not even Roma sporting director [Daniele] Prade, has spoken with me. Frankly I do not understand the situation."

Baptista joined Madrid in 2005 from Sevilla, although he did spend the 2006/07 season on loan at English giants Arsenal.

Alessio Alexis

Roma Make Drenthe Enquiry

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The Giallorossi are keen to bolster their squad with two more acquisitions in the next few days and have been linked with a host of players.

But negotiations for Baptista are ongoing and Marca state that Drenthe's name has come up because Los Merengues indicated that they could be willing to sell.

Only a year after prising the 21-year-old from Feyenoord, Bernd Schuster is believed that have hoped he would progress quicker than he has done and could cash in.

Drenthe is due to travel the Olympic Games with the Holland squad at the end of the month and has made it clear that he has no desire to leave the club next season.

One option could be a loan move that would see Drenthe able to gain valuable first team experience, which he is set to miss out on again next term at Madrid.

According to Marca, Juventus and Fiorentina have also made enquiries in the past, although la Vecchia Signora's interest has now ended after they declared their squad to be complete.

Last summer, Drenthe agreed to join Madrid for €14m and looked set to be loaned straight back to the Dutch club, but that failed to materialise and he had to settle for a bit-part role at the Bernabéu.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com

Roma In Talks To Sign Malouda

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Malouda only signed for Chelsea last summer from Lyon for a hefty €20m, however he was a huge disappointment in his first season at Stamford Bridge.

The latest speculation suggests that the French international doesn’t feature in new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, and thus will be allowed to leave.

Roma have had a disappointing summer transfer campaign so far, buying no big names, and this sparked captain Franecsco Totti to publicly declare that the club need to sign at least two top-class stars.

One of these is likely to be an attacking wideman as there is void that needs filling following the departure of Amantino Mancini to Inter.

The Corriere claims that Roma are hoping to replace the Brazilian by capturing Malouda on an initial loan deal, with the option to then sign him permanently.

Talks between the clubs are already said to be in progress, and the Frenchman would potentially join Real Madrid’s Julio Baptista in Rome, with ‘The Beast’ edging closer to a €15m transfer.

So far this summer, Roma have snapped up Liverpool full-back John-Arne Riise and Siena's Simone Loria, but far more exotic names will surely be needed if the club are to challenge for serious honours this season.

Alessio Alexis