Sabatini: De Rossi deal a priority

Roma director of sport Walter Sabatini has underlined the club’s desire to tie Daniele De Rossi down to a new deal.

Talks have been ongoing between Roma and the Italy midfielder, but they are yet to find an agreement extending beyond 2012.

De Rossi stunned the club last month when he said they could be ‘better off’ without him.

Those comments were later watered-down by general manager Franco Baldini, who said Roma were as keen as ever to keep the midfielder.

Sabatini said the club have not backed down from trying to reach an accord, despite De Rossi’s previous links with Manchester City.

“De Rossi’s deal is an absolute priority for us and for the player too,” Sabatini told Il Corriere dello Sport.

Staying on the subject of transfers, Sabatini said he would speak with coach Luis Enrique to decide whether additional players are needed in the January transfer window.

“We have to see the coach about this and decide what we may need. However, the market will be just to touch up the squad, not for much else,” he said.

Roma are 7th in the Serie A standings, six points behind leaders Udinese, and they play Lecce on November 20.