Contract talks: William Gallas
Roma have stepped up their bid to sign William Gallas by sending
dealmaker Daniele Prade to London.
The Serie A club's sporting director was at the Emirates for
Arsenal's destruction of Porto on Tuesday night - a match Gallas
missed because of a calf injury - and is keen to reach a
pre-contract agreement with the France international.
Gallas, 32, is set to become a free agent in the summer and has
been so far unable to agree a deal to stay with the Gunners.
Roma boss Claudio Ranieri brought the defender to England when
he was in charge of Chelsea in 2006 and this week confirmed he
would welcome a reunion at the Olympic Stadium.
Arsenal will break with their policy of offering players over 30
one-year deals, but a draft new two-year contract is believed to
come with the demand that Gallas takes a £20,000 a week reduction
on his current £80,000 a week deal.
While Roma are keen to take advantage, the high wage demands are
also a problem for the Italians, though Gallas has previously
indicated he would like to experience playing in another league
before retiring.
Prade has others on his shopping list, keeping a close eye on
Porto quartet Hulk, Radamel Falcao, Jorge Fucile and Alvaro
Pereira.
Watch list: Roma are also interested in Porto
striker Falcao (left)