Roma were looking to sign Manchester United winger Jadon Sancho this summer, but they are now focusing on a deal for 19-year-old Chelsea starlet Tyrique George instead
Roma have reportedly ended their pursuit of Jadon Sancho, with the Serie A club instead focusing their attention on a deal for Tyrique George. Sancho is part of a four-man bomb squad at Manchester United, having been frozen out by Ruben Amorim.
Sancho spent last season on loan at Chelsea and United are hoping to sell the winger before the transfer window slams shut, with Alejandro Garnacho, Antony, Tyrell Malacia and Rasmus Hojlund also likely to leave.
However, according to a report from Italian outlet La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma's interest in Sancho has waned. Roma are desperate to strengthen out wide this summer and Sancho was their top target.
Roma were said to have agreed a deal with United to sign him on loan with a £20million option to buy and the club had set Sancho a deadline to decide whether he wanted to join. However, his wages have proved to be an issue and the report states that he has not responded.
As a result, Roma have switched their focus to Chelsea starlet George, who was team-mates with Sancho last season. The 19-year-old has impressed in his limited appearances for the Blues and Roma believe manager Gian Piero Gasperini can 'turn him into a new star'.
The report states the move will be a permanent one rather than a loan, with George's wage demands 'significantly more affordable than Sancho's'.
It is also claimed that Chelsea want to include a clause that would see them bank 30 per cent of whatever Roma sell George for. Interestingly, Sancho has previously hailed George and claimed the teenager "has the world at his feet".
In a post on social media after George made his first Chelsea start in the Conference League last season, Sancho wrote: "Tyrique has the world at his feet, top guy and such a humble human being. Deserves every bit of success coming his way!"
Chelsea defender Levi Colwill has also previously branded George an "amazing" talent. Speaking after George netted his first Premier League goal, Colwill said: "We all know how good of a player he is.
"And for him to come in and score gives him a bit of a confidence boost and hopefully he keeps pushing and he tries getting into our side because that's why he's here, because he's an amazing player. He's not there to sit on the bench; he’s there to come and play."