Ivorian forward Gervais Yao Kouassi, more popularly known as Gervinho, is reportedly set to complete a €10 million transfer from Italian Serie A club AS Roma to Chinese Super League team Jiangsu Suning FC this January.
Football Italia indicated that the rumors were so loud that the 28-year-old Anyama, Ivory Coast native was not included in I Giallorossi's lineup during the team's 1-1 draw with Hellas Verona last Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
The game marked the debut of Luciano Spalletti as Roma's new head coach, replacing the recently sacked Rudi Garcia as La Maggica's chief bench tactician.
It was reported that the change in bench leadership had prompted Gervinho, who is a loyal follower of Garcia, to fall out with the club especially after he was offered annual wages of €8 million by Jiangsu to move to China.
Meanwhile, ESPN noted that Spalletti "wants to keep Gervinho amid reports the forward is close to a move to China".
"He's an important player and I could do with two of him," the new Roma manager said. "These things happen in the transfer market, but if it were up to me I would not sell him. Then it can happen that a player comes to you and asks to be sold."
CSL's Jiangsu, which finished at ninth place during last season's China top-flight competitions, is one of the highest spenders in world football during this winter transfer window.
The team has already snagged Brazilian striker Luiz Adriano from AC Milan and Colombian midfielder Fredy Guarin from Inter Milan for about €14 million each.
There are also talks that the team is targeting Manchester City midfielder Yaya Touré for €10 million.