Genoa winger Diego Perotti. (Photo : Getty Images)
Italian Serie A squad AS Roma is reportedly eyeing Genoa CFC winger Diego Perotti as a potential replacement for their former player, Gervais Yao Kouassi, or Gervinho, who recently transferred to Chinese Super League club Hebei China Fortune FC.
Roma lost one of their most reliable and versatile playmakers in Gervinho, who was sold by I Giallorossi for €18 million plus €1 million in performance-based bonuses to the newly-promoted Chinese top flight squad.
"AS Roma can today confirm that forward Gervinho has joined Hebei China Fortune FC," the Italian squad said in a statement on Wednesday, via Football Italia. "The 28-year-old Ivorian has signed for the Chinese side on a permanent deal for a fee of €18 million after two and a half seasons with AS Roma."
"An additional €1 million could be paid depending on the Chinese club's and the player's performances," the team added.
Calcio Mercato reported that La Maggica is "about to sign Genoa winger Diego Perotti" and that the Argentine "will join only if Gervinho will leave".
With the Ivorian now officially signed with Hebei, it seems like Perotti's own signing with Roma is just a matter of time. I Rossoblu will reportedly receive a transfer fee of €9 million for the winger.
The 27-year-old Moreno, Argentina native had been with Genoa since July 2014, after finishing his injury-riddled five season stint with La Liga club Sevilla FC. This season, he has appeared in 13 out of 21 games in the Italian top flight for Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, scoring a goal and dishing out two assists.
Perotti started his senior career in 2006 playing for Argentina's Primera B Metropolitana team Club Deportivo Morón, where he stayed until 2008 before Sevilla's team B signed him. He debuted in the Sevillistas first team in February 2009.
Meanwhile, Hebei China Fortune is said to be keen on making waves in the Chinese Super League this coming season as apart from Gervinho, the club have signed four other international players during this winter transfer window, namely Brazilian Edu, Serbian Nenad Milijas, and Cameroonian Stéphane Mbia.
