Ljajic signs for Roma as Lamela departs

Fiorentina's Adem Ljajic completed his transfer to Roma on Wednesday as the Italian capital club confirmed that highly-rated forward Erik Lamela is on his way to Tottenham Hotspur. Roma issued a statement to say that they had agreed to pay 11 million euros ($14.7m, £9.4m) to the Florence-based club for the Serbian striker, plus up to 4 million euros more in bonuses. At the same time, they revealed that Lamela would be moving to Spurs for 30 million euros plus a potential 5 million euros more in bonuses, in a deal which suggests that Gareth Bale's protracted switch from north London to Real Madrid is nearing completion. The news came after ANSA news agency reported that Ljajic, who had also been courted by AC Milan, had arrived in Rome on Wednesday morning where he was welcomed by a group of Roma supporters, to whom he responded 'Forza Roma' (Go Roma). Reports in several Italian newspapers indicated that Lamela, an Argentinian who holds a Spanish passport, would only be allowed to leave for Spurs once Ljajic had put pen to paper at the Stadio Olimpico. Despite spending a month out injured during last season, Lamela scored 15 times in 33 games for Roma to finish as Serie A's joint-fifth top scorer and his club's second behind Pablo Osvaldo (16). Roma missed out on European competition this season after finishing sixth in Serie A and losing the Italian Cup final to Lazio. Meanwhile, Fiorentina were already preparing for life without Ljajic as they announced the signing of Croatian striker Ante Rebic in a deal worth 4.5 million euros ($6m) on Wednesday. Rebic, who previously played for RNK Split, has signed a four-year deal with an option for a further year, Fiorentina announced on their Twitter feed. Rebic, 19, only recently made his debut for the Croatian national side and scored several minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute against Liechtenstein. Source: AFP