AS Roma make £11m Abdul Rahman Baba bid

The Italian giants look set to go head-to-head with Chelsea for the signing of the Ghana left-back

AS Roma have made a formal approach to Augsburg for the services of Ghana left-back Abdul Rahman Baba.

The Mirror report that the Italian giants have made an offer of £11 million for the player, and are set to go head-to-head with Chelsea, who have been heavily linked with the defender.

The 20-year-old has also been linked with a move to Manchester City, Arsenal and Juventus, although it remains to be seen which of the player’s other suitors will look to compete with the Giallorossi.

The English paper report that the capital giants are looking to offer the player a five-year deal, and see him as the long-term successor to Ashley Cole for the left-back berth.

Roma’s official approach may provoke Chelsea to formalise their much-reported interest in the player.

Jose Mourinho is understood to want Baba as a backup for Cesar Azpilicueta and as a replacement for Brazil international Filipe Luis.

The 29-year-old only arrived at Stamford Bridge a year ago, but has wholly failed to dislodge his Spanish rival for the left-back berth. With the former La Liga winner being linked with a move back to Atletico Madrid, Mourinho is likely to find himself in need of a new left-sided full-back.

However, it remains to be seen whether the player himself would be hesitant to move to Stamford Bridge to fulfil a likely backup role.

The experiences of other bright young talents in West London—not least his international teammate Christian Atsu—may also discourage Baba from throwing his lot in with Jose Mourinho.

The interest in the 20-year-old comes off the back of both his exceptional campaign in Germany, as he helped Augsburg into the Europa League places, and his fine form with Ghana.

The youngster made his Black Stars debut after the World Cup, replacing Kwadwo Asamoah at left-back, and went on to establish himself as Avram Grant’s go-to player in that position.