Roma closing in on fullback

6 July 2012 11:52

Roma director Walter Sabatini says the club are on the verge of signing a right-back amid reports Jose Bosingwa is poised to arrive.

The Portuguese defender is a free agent following the expiration of his contract with Chelsea at the end of June and it is believed he is set to link up with Roma.

"(We are) close to (signing) a strong right-back, who has different qualities to the players we have in the squad," sporting director Sabatini explained during a press conference.

The former Roma midfielder refused to provide the media with any clues as to the identity of the club's mystery target, but he did declare: "It's not (Ajax full-back Gregory) van der Wiel."

The 29-year-old Bosingwa, who retired from international football last year, joined Chelsea from Porto in 2008 for a reported 20.6 million euros.