Roma line up Burdisso replacement

Roma are eyeing Benfica’s Ezequiel Garay as a replacement for long-term injury victim Nicholas Burdisso, according to reports in Italy.

Burdisso injured his knee on international duty with Argentina and is likely to be out for six months, and Il Corriere dello Sport claims countryman Garay is top of Roma’s list of reinforcements.The Serie A club are hoping to offload defenders Juan and Cicinho during the January transfer window, and will need to strengthen their rear guard as a consequence.

Benfica’s 25-year-old former Real Madrid defender is seen as the ideal man to relieve the Giallorossi’s defensive issues, with the report indicating he would be available for 10 million euros.

Garay signed for Benfica in July 2011 for a fee of 5.5 million euros and has made 13 appearances for the Liga Sagres side this season.

If Roma are unable to tie up a deal for the Argentine, the list of alternatives is thought to include Borussia Dortmund’s 15 million euro-rated Neven Subotic.