Roma emerge as Mexes favourites
Tuesday, 30 March 2004
Players:
Philippe Mexes
Teams:
Roma
Auxerre
Manchester United
by Graeme Bailey
Reports in France are suggesting that Roma have pushed past Manchester United in the race to land Auxerre's brilliant young defender Philippe Mexes.
Djibril Cisse, Jean-Alain Boumsong and Olivier Kapo are due to leave the Stade Abbe Deschamps in the summer and the club have already confirmed that Mexes will be allowed to join the exodus.
The 22-year-old has been a target of United, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Juventus over the last few seasons - but now Roma look to have stolen a march on their rivals.
The Roman giants could be losing Jonathan Zebina and Vincent Candela in the summer and so the need for defensive reinforcements is at the foremost of their transfer thinking.
United were understood to have rekindled their interest in Mexes after watching him again in recent weeks, as they too will almost certainly add a defender to their ranks over the summer.
However, it now seems that Roma are in the driving seat to secure Mexes's signature, but their interest is yet to be officially confirmed by either side.
The defender is due to play in Euro 2004 with France and is unlikely to sort out his future until after the tournament in Portugal.
www.planetfootball.com
Were do they get the money from.
Sorry its about time this club was banned from doing anuy deals in the market until they sort out their finances.