Monday, 18th August, 2014



Roma are already planning for life without Bayern Munich and Manchester United target Mehdi Benatia.

The powerful Moroccan centre-back is being chased by the Bavarians and the Red Devils, with the former having sent their technical director to Italy to open talks with Roma.



The Giallorossi are now considering the possibility that Benatia will be sold and have started to look around for his successor.

According to Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport, the man on Roma's radar is Lille defender Marko Basa.

 


The 31-year-old would be a cheaper option for Roma, allowing the bulk of any fee received for Benatia to be banked, while he is well known to the club's coach Rudi Garcia, who bossed Basa at Lille.

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Roma are thought to want in excess of €35m to sell Benatia and it still remains to be seen whether Bayern Munich or Manchester United will be willing to meet the defender's asking price.

Basa meanwhile has played his club football in Serbia, France and Russia.

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