Conflicting reports speculate interest from AS Roma, Lazio in Jerome Boateng

Per a report from Sky Sport Germany, both AS Roma and Lazio are interested in signing Jerome Boateng from Bayern Munich this summer. The center-back is 100% leaving Bayern during the transfer window as his contract expires at the end of June.

Sky reported that Lazio had already made contact with Boateng’s representatives, with sporting director Igli Tare spearheading the conversations. Lazio is in the market for a central defender and, as a free transfer, Boateng could fit the billing perfectly with the amount of experience he has. For depth, they’ll also be losing Wesley Hoedt, who’ll be returning to Southampton in the Premier League as his loan spell with Lazio has ended. He made a total of 26 appearances across all competitions this past season.

For AS Roma, Jose Mourinho is a big fan of Boateng’s and would be keen on bringing him to the Italian capital. Roma isn’t in dire need of a center back, but Mourinho has always been a big fan of Boateng’s and has tried to sign him a handful of times for different clubs he’s managed. Unlike Lazio, discussions have not yet been initiated between anyone from Roma and Boateng and/or his representatives.

Falk discredits Sky Sport

Christian Falk took to his Twitter page to discredit the report from Sky Sport. He gave the report the reverse “flex” treatment.

Where Boateng will eventually wind up is still up in the air. There had been talks suggesting he might go to the United States to play for an MLS club, but he’s insisted that he wants to continue to play at a top level in Europe. The fact that he’s a free transfer makes him that much more desirable for clubs that are interested, but the club would still, of course, need to be able to afford his wages. Months ago, he had also been linked with Hertha Berlin and earlier this month he had been linked with Niko Kovac’s AS Monaco, but those rumors cooled off pretty quick, too.