AS Roma's prolific young Italy forward Mattia Destro has rejected a move to Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg, according to recent reports. The Italian capital side reluctantly accepted an offer of around €25million for one of their star players but Destro has refused the move, leaving Wolfsburg chasing their fourth attacking target this summer. Dieter Hecking had been interested in Romelu Lukaku and Álvaro Morata but both moved elsewhere, leaving him with a gap to fill in his squad before the season kicks off in just under three weeks.
Destro, 23, has struggled with injuries in the past but put his troubles to one side last season as he scored 13 goals in 20 appearances for Roma having joined from Siena in 2o12. Despite his impressive showing, he missed out on the World Cup squad with Ciro Immobile - now in the Bundesliga - Mario Balotelli and Lorenzo Insigne preferred and Destro has now made it his mission to cement a place in Rudi Garcia's starting eleven.
Roma have had a productive transfer season so far, bringing in Radja Nainggolan, Juan Iturbe, Ashley Cole and others but they may need to sell to comply with Financial Fair Play rules. More contentiously, Roma have also agreed a loan deal for Cagliari defender Davide Astori, who Destro was suspended for punching after a game last season. Adem Ljajić and Mehdi Benatia had been linked with big-money moves away but Ljajić also seems unwilling to leave with president James Pallotta adding, "Mehdi [Benatia] is our player and he will be for this season, he is very important for us on and off the field."
Despite a perfect start to the campaign with ten wins from ten games, Roma finished 17 points behind behind eventual champions Juvenus last year and will look to build on their second-place finish this season. Selling star players would not be the way to do this - especially with talisman Francesco Totti closing in on 40 years old - but Roma will have to raise some funds from somewhere if they are to make their mark on Italian football.