Como are on course to complete the double signing of Nico Paz and Maximo Perrone from Real Madrid and Manchester City respectively, as well as former Barcelona captain Sergi Roberto.
The provincial Italian side are back in Serie A this season for the first time in 21 years and are under the leadership of rookie head coach Cesc Fabregas.
Hoping to avoid an immediate return to Serie B, Como have boosted their squad with the acquisition of veterans like Raphael Varane, Pepe Reina, Alberto Moreno and Andrea Belotti. But they’ve spent some decent money on younger players too – Yannik Engelhardt, Alieu Fadera, Emil Audero, Gabriel Strefezza and Alberto Dossena have arrived for a combined €32m and the ambition continues.
Fabrizio Romano has reported a deal is in place with Real Madrid to sign Paz on a permanent transfer for €6m. Madrid would also be entitled to 50% of a future transfer and have a buy-back clause to exercise should they wish to have the forward back or sell him at a higher price themselves.
Paz, who turns 20 next month, made eight first-team appearances last season and scored once.
Romano later hinted that announcements for Paz, Perrone and Roberto are close.
Negotiations with Manchester City over Perrone were said to have started with the possibility of an initial loan with option to buy. City wanted sell-on and buy-back clauses to still ultimately to keep control over the 21-year-old midfielder’s future.
Perrone joined City from Argentine club Velez Sarsfield in January 2023 and played two first-team games before spending last season on loan at Las Palmas in La Liga. He featured for Pep Guardiola’s side during pre-season but hasn’t been involved since the new campaign kicked off.
Roberto is a different kind of signing, adding to the core of experience following his release from Barcelona at the end of his contract. The 32-year-old midfielder/right-back is branching out for the first time in his career after spending more than half his life with the Catalan giants.
Como were handed a rude awakening on their Serie A return last weekend, thumped by Juventus.
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