Time is ticking for Mourinho's defender search: Lindelof, Zagadou, Bailly or Akanji

The Giallorossi have had a pretty good transfer window. They seem close to getting Italian national team striker Andrea Belotti on a free transfer. Besides, the signings of Paulo Dybala and Gini Wijanldum got the fans excited, but there is one more area of the team to cover - central defence.

Manager Jose Mourinho is playing with three centre-backs. Although the current most-used three is pretty strong-looking: Gianluca Mancini, Chris Smalling and Roger Ibanez, the problem is that there is only one other senior central defender at Mourinho's disposal - the largely untested Marash Kumbulla. That is why the Roman club can't afford to let the transfer window pass without recruiting at least one more defender.

The general director in charge of transfer dealings Tiago Pinto's got several names on his agenda, but no player is looking close to Stadio Olimpico. We're likely to wait until the final days of August to see someone pose with a Roma shirt, so let's take a look at who the candidates are.

Pinto has evaluated Eric Bailly and Victor Lindelof of Manchester United, free agent Dan-Axel Zagadou, and Manuel Akanji, who is also a transfer target for Inter Milan.

The 27-year-old Swiss international Akanji will be out of contract in less than 12 months and would therefore not cost too much. The former FC Basel central defender has been offered to several clubs as BVB tries to avoid losing him on a free transfer next June.

There is an even cheaper option, although a risky one. Dan-Axel Zagadou, a 23-year-old Frenchman, is still without a team after departing Dortmund last month. Monaco and West Ham had also contacted him, but his future is still unclear. Raised in the youth sector of Paris Saint-Germain, Zagadou moved to Borussia Dortmund in 2017 without ever making his senior debut for the Parisians. He has many traits that Mourinho likes: he's strong and tall, he's left-footed and strong in the air, but is very prone to injuries, making him a talented liability. Muscle injuries, two knee operations, knocks and setbacks made him miss far too many matches for the yellow-blacks.

Mourinho is well acquainted with United's defenders Bailly and Lindelof. Getting the Ivorian international seems very difficult, while the Swede Lindelof would be attainable, considering that he is unlikely to get much playing time this season. Manchester United values ​​him at $15 million, but he might be a suitable loan option.

The time running out for Mourinho and his ambitious project.