Roma are unwilling to pay the €25m asking price for Henrikh Mkhitaryan, so reportedly hope to extend his loan from Arsenal by another season.
The 31-year-old Armenia international made the move for €3m last summer and made 17 appearances between Serie A and the Europa League, contributing six goals and four assists.
He struggled repeatedly with injuries, which is why Roma are not prepared to meet the €25m cost of buying him out permanently.
Instead, Calciomercato.com suggest agent Mino Raiola will propose an extension of the loan until June 2021.
That would then have a fixed option to buy.
However, his contract with Arsenal is due to expire in June 2021 anyway, so Mkhi would need to extend that deal first.