Roma are preparing an ambitious move for Marseille striker Mason Greenwood during the summer transfer window.
However, the Italian club faces major obstacles to finalizing the deal: the high price tag, the profit clause that Manchester United retains from a future sale and the vital need to secure Champions League qualification in the final week of Serie A.
According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Roma are seriously considering a move for Greenwood. Since joining Marseille from Manchester United in 2024, the English striker has found his stride and has scored 48 goals and provided 17 assists in 81 appearances. Now, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini is said to have put him at the top of his attack wish list. The idea is for Greenwood to form a powerful partnership with Donyell Malen in an attempt to build a much more dangerous attacking unit at the Stadio Olimpico.
The main obstacle remains the financial side. Marseille are expected to demand around €50m for their star player, who is under contract until 2029. The situation is further complicated by the fact that Manchester United have retained a significant percentage of any future sale of the player. This means Marseille do not have much room for price reductions.
Although Roma have a good relationship with the French club, the Friedkin family must find a way to balance their finances before making such a large investment. For this reason, midfielders Manu Koné and Matías Soulé could be sacrificed in the transfer market. Their sale would provide the Italian club with the necessary funds to meet the €50 million request, without risking violating financial regulations.
Another important factor is Marseille's situation in the French championship. The club has failed to secure participation in the Champions League for next season, closing Ligue 1 in fifth place with 59 points. The absence from the most lucrative European competition and the transition to the Europa League constitute a significant financial blow. This could push Marseille to sell Greenwood to fix the balance sheets.
However, the clause that Manchester United have in a future sale makes the deal more complicated. Marseille cannot lower the price too much, as part of the amount will end up in the coffers of Greenwood's former club. This creates a difficult negotiating triangle between Roma, Marseille and Manchester United.
Now, Roma's attention is on the crucial away match against Hellas Verona in the final week of Serie A. The capital team is in fourth place with 70 points and a win would secure them a place in the Champions League. This objective is essential, because the income from Europe's elite competition would give Roma the financial strength to start official negotiations for Greenwood.
If Roma manage to secure the Champions League and Marseille remain under financial pressure after failing in Ligue 1, the transfer could become a realistic possibility. But for now, the high price tag and the percentage that Manchester United owns make this operation much more complicated than it seems on paper. /GazetaExpress/
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