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Roma are ready to challenge Juventus to sign out-of-favour Tottenham defender Vlad Chiriches in January.
Chiriches has not played for Spurs since a nightmare performance in their Europa League match with Besiktas last month, but that has not doused the interest of Serie A’s leading two clubs.
Roma came close to signing Chiriches, 25, last summer, before they eventually opted to sign Greece centre-back Kostas Manolas from Olympiakos.
The Franco Baldini signings not good enough for Tottenham
But manager Rudi Garcia and sporting director Walter Sabatini believe reinforcements are still needed in defence, due to injuries and loss of form.
Spurs head coach Mauricio Pochettino is willing to let Chiriches leave the club, initially on a loan deal. If he were to impress, then a permanent transfer could be discussed next summer.
Chiriches has struggled to make an impact in English football but there is confidence in Italy that Serie A, with its slower pace, would be more suited to the Romania international. Juventus have already made enquiries about him during the early weeks of the campaign.
