Saturday, 2nd July, 2011
Liverpool’s move for Roma goalkeeper Doni is back on.
The English side’s swoop for the Brazilian shot-stopper, of which news first emerged on 7th June, floundered under the weight of the player’s wage demands, but now there could be an opportunity to once again close the deal.
While Doni was attracted to the idea of a switch to Anfield and Roma agreed a deal in principle with the Reds, the keeper could not agree personal terms with Kenny Dalglish’s side – in the Italian capital Doni earns €2.5M per season, but Liverpool offered just €900,000. Even with a hefty signing-on fee Doni would still have been significantly out of pocket.
However, reports from Italian news agency ANSA confirm that the deal is back on, with both Roma and Liverpool once again hopeful.
Roma are pushing ahead with plans to sign Dutch international Maarten Stekelenburg from Ajax and those talks are well advanced. However, the potential arrival of Stekelenburg leaves the Giallorossi keen to offload a keeper, with Doni at the top of that list due to his high salary.
And so, with the prospect of some movement from Liverpool and a payoff of sorts from Roma, the deal could yet go ahead. And this has been confirmed by Doni’s agent.
"The hypothesis is still standing", said Ovido Colucci.
"In the first half of next week we’ll know more, because I will meet the management of Roma."
Doni is keen to consider a switch to Liverpool and the prospect of turning out for one of the Premier League’s biggest sides excites the Brazilian, even if the challenge of dislodging Pepe Reina from the number 1 spot looks impossible.
Liverpool, who have been scouring world football for an experienced shot-stopper after missing out on Brad Friedel to Tottenham Hotspur, are hopeful a deal, which was off just weeks ago, could be rekindled.
Latest Features:
