Manchester City transfer news: Youngster 'on Roma's radar' amid Gasperini interest

Claudio Echeverri has emerged as a target for Roma. According to Spanish outlet AS, the young Argentine from Manchester City has caught the attention of the Italian club following a request from manager Gian Piero Gasperini to bolster his attacking options.

The report states that Gasperini has asked for a player capable of playing in a central creative role, and Echeverri — who joined City at the start of the year — is seen as a strong candidate to fill that need. Roma are now said to have stepped up their efforts to sign the 18-year-old.

However, a move for Echeverri is currently viewed as a secondary option and would only proceed if the club are unable to sign their first-choice target, Fabio Silva from Wolverhampton Wanderers. Nevertheless, Roma are continuing discussions with Echeverri and are assessing the feasibility of a deal.

Limited opportunities at City could open door for Echeverri exit

Born in 2006, Echeverri joined City in January after the Premier League champions agreed an €18.5m (£15.7m) deal with River Plate earlier in 2024. Despite the transfer being finalised, City opted to keep him in Argentina for a further season to aid his development before making the move to Europe.

Since arriving in Manchester, Echeverri has struggled to secure regular minutes due to intense competition in City's attacking ranks. He has played just 64 minutes in total across all competitions, scoring one goal against Al-Ain in the Club World Cup.

Given the limited playing time, Echeverri is reportedly open to a loan move in order to continue his development elsewhere. According to AS, both the player and City are in favour of a one-year loan spell, and Roma is considered a strong potential destination.

City unwilling to include purchase clause in Roma talks

Roma are believed to be interested in including a purchase option in any loan agreement, but City are not prepared to agree to those terms, as they want to retain full control over Echeverri's future. The Argentine is under contract at the Etihad Stadium until June 2028.

In addition to his club career, Echeverri has impressed with Argentina’s youth sides. He featured in nine matches for the national team this year, scoring six goals and providing three assists, all during the South American Under-20 Championship held in Venezuela in January.

This article was originally published on T rivela.