Reports from France suggest that AS Roma has successfully negotiated personal terms with RC Lens midfielder Neil El Aynaoui. However, the transfer remains uncertain due to the substantial fee demanded by the French club.
El Aynaoui, who recently celebrated his 24th birthday, is said to be enthusiastic about joining Roma under new coach Gian Piero Gasperini`s project. The Moroccan international has been on Roma`s radar alongside other potential targets like Richard Rios from Palmeiras.
The main obstacle in completing the transfer is RC Lens` €30 million valuation of the player. This asking price represents a significant profit margin for Lens, considering they acquired El Aynaoui from AS Nancy for just €600,000 in the summer of 2023.
Despite being born and raised in France, El Aynaoui represents Morocco at the international level. His potential move to Roma has attracted attention, with other Serie A clubs like Juventus and Lazio also reportedly showing interest in the midfielder.
As negotiations continue, it remains to be seen whether Roma can reach an agreement with RC Lens on the transfer fee, or if they will need to explore alternative options to strengthen their midfield for the upcoming season.