Roma Join Marseille in Race for Yanga-Mbiwa
Olympique de Marseille may face stiff competition in their pursuit of Newcastle United defender Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa, with Serie A side AS Roma reportedly entering the race for the French international.
According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Roma are exploring a move for the 25-year-old centre-back as the Italian club looks to reinforce its defence ahead of the transfer window deadline. Yanga-Mbiwa, who has fallen down the pecking order at Newcastle, is expected to leave St James’ Park before the window closes.
The former Montpellier captain has long been admired by Marseille, with manager Marcelo Bielsa reportedly keen to bring him back to Ligue 1. However, Roma boss Rudi Garcia, who previously coached Yanga-Mbiwa during his time at Montpellier, may now hold the upper hand in the negotiations.
The Italian giants are also reportedly targeting Portuguese defender Rolando, currently on loan from Inter Milan to FC Porto, as another option to strengthen their backline. But with the transfer window drawing to a close, Roma are said to be prioritising the move for Yanga-Mbiwa.
The Frenchman, who can play both centrally and as a full-back, has struggled for regular playing time in the Premier League since his move to Newcastle in 2013. With the Magpies now looking to offload him, several clubs across Europe have shown interest, including Ligue 1 side Bordeaux.
While Marseille continue to monitor the situation, the prospect of joining a Champions League club like Roma, under a manager he knows well, could be a decisive factor for Yanga-Mbiwa.
As deadline day approaches, Marseille may need to move quickly and convincingly if they are to land the Franco-Central African defender ahead of their Italian and domestic rivals.
