Marseille striker Robinio Vaz is nearing a move to Roma, according to reports in Italy.
Talks between the clubs are understood to be at an advanced stage, with the prospective fee for the 18-year-old France youth international believed to be in the region of €25m (£22m), including bonuses.
Representatives for the player have yet to agree personal terms, report Sky Italia.
Vaz has made rapid progress since joining Marseille from the youth academy of third-tier French side Sochaux in the summer of 2024.
After impressing on his senior club debut in the Coupe de France against Lille last January, Vaz went on to make his Ligue 1 bow as a second-half substitute in a 1-1 draw with Strasbourg five days later. Forty-five minutes was all the time he needed to win a crucial penalty and earn the man-of-the-match award.
Although Vaz would only make the bench twice more over the remainder of the campaign, Marseille manager Roberto De Zerbi did not conceal his admiration for the teenager’s performance.
What has Marseille boss Roberto De Zerbi said about Robinio Vaz?
“He’s really strong,” said De Zerbi. “He needs to keep his head on his shoulders. He has that desire, that hunger. It’s a source of pride to give him playing time.
“I play those who deserve it, and he gave us energy. He needs to keep working. He was born in 2007, so we have to manage him, but I’m not afraid to play young players.”
De Zerbi has lived up to those words, with Vaz making 19 appearances this season across all competitions. While the striker has weighed in with four league goals and two assists, however, he has been confined to the bench since early December amid reports that he has failed to reach agreement with the club over a proposed extension to his current contract, which expires in the summer of 2028.
Who could rival Roma for Vaz’s signature?
That appears to have opened the door to a transfer to Roma, who are apparently keen to complete negotiations with the forward rapidly amid rival interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
However, Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Napoli and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked with a potential move for Vaz, suggesting that competition for his signature will be fierce should he become available.
Roma have previously been credited with interest in Vaz as cover for Artem Dovbyk. The Ukraine international, who is reputedly being courted by Fenerbahçe, is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury.
