Mario Hermoso has been omitted from Roma’s squad for their upcoming match against Udinese, fueling speculation about his imminent transfer to Bayer Leverkusen. The Giallorossi are set to play at the Bluenergy Arena on Sunday at 14:00 GMT in Serie A’s 22nd round of fixtures.

Hermoso’s absence from the traveling group led by manager Claudio Ranieri coincides with increasing reports suggesting his departure from the club is already in motion. The 29-year-old Spanish international only joined Roma as a free agent in September after leaving Atletico Madrid.

Despite making 13 appearances across various competitions for Roma, Hermoso has recently fallen out of favor. The arrival of Claudio Ranieri as head coach, replacing Ivan Juric and his predecessor Daniele De Rossi, has seen Mats Hummels frequently preferred in Hermoso’s position.

Multiple sources, including Sky Sports Deutschland and transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, indicate that negotiations between Bayer Leverkusen and Roma for Hermoso’s transfer are at an advanced stage. This potential move comes after just five months in the Italian capital, marking a surprisingly short tenure for the defender at Roma.