Franco Sensi, president of Italian First-Division leader AS Roma, has told an Italian sports daily that Japanese midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata is a candidate for a transfer deal with fellow Serie A powerhouse Parma.
Nakata "may be involved in negotiations with Parma," Gazetta dello Sport quoted Sensi as saying in reference to much-publicized speculation that Roma is targeting Parma's Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.
"I've got the impression that it's 70% sure Buffon will stay with Parma and the rest is a possibility of his move to Roma or Juventus," Sensi said.
Speaking about the battle for the playmaking role in the Roma squad, most notably between Nakata and captain Francesco Totti, Sensi said, "We're going to have three players in the same position next year and one of them is supposed to leave our club."
Nakata, currently on international duty for Japan in the Confederations Cup, which it is co-hosting with South Korea, is the focus of Roma's transfer talk after being second choice to Totti throughout the season.
Roma are four points clear of second-placed Juventus with two matches left in the season.
Bisconti out
FUKUOKA (Kyodo) Argentine midfielder David Bisconti underwent surgery for an inflamed right kneecap at a Tokyo hospital Thursday and will likely miss the remaining five matches in the J. League's first stage, Avispa Fukuoka officials said.
According to the J. League first division club, doctors said Bisconti will need about six weeks to fully recover from the surgery.
With five matches remaining in the first stage, Fukuoka has 14 points from five wins in 10 matches and is sixth in the 16-team league.
Bisconti, 32, joined Fukuoka during the second stage last year.