Barcelona Transfer News: Gerson Picks Blaugrana over Roma, Latest Rumours

Roma have reportedly dropped their interest in Fluminense midfielder Gerson, leaving the road clear for Barcelona to seal the signing of the Brazilian.

The Camp Nou giants have first option on the talented 18-year-old—after paying Fluminense €3.2million (£2.3 million) in May for the pleasure—and Gerson has now turned down Roma in favour of a switch to Barcelona, per Sport's Joaquim Piera.

Roma reportedly dropped out of the race to sign Gerson as they could not compete financially, and he will now make the switch to the Camp Nou in a €12 million (£8.4 million) deal "in the coming days," per Piera.

Italian football expert Tancredi Palmeri previously outlined Roma's proposed bid in their attempts to sign Gerson:

Clearly Roma could not offer the youngster good enough personal terms to lure him away from Barcelona.

It was previously assumed that Gerson would stay with Fluminense until Barca's transfer ban lifts in January. However, the suggestion now is that he will train with Barca until the new year before coach Luis Enrique decides whether he should be loaned out or integrated into the first team.

Regularly played out on the right flank, Gerson's leggy, unorthodox style makes him a tough prospect for opposition players to handle. He has an eye for goal and his passing ability is impressive, as can be seen below:

At 18 years old, he is still very raw, and it will be interesting to see how he is utilised by Barca as they manage his progression.

Brazilian football writer Rupert Fryer picked out Roma as the ideal club for Gerson:

But, if handled properly, he could equally thrive at the Camp Nou. He is unlikely to make it into the first team any time soon, and a loan move may prove valuable, but the Catalan giants look set to make a very exciting long-term signing by taking Gerson on.

However, they are reportedly set to let go one of their own exciting youngsters with the departure of Alen Halilovic.

The 19-year-old is eager to play at a higher level than Segunda B—the third tier of Spanish football to which Barca B were recently relegated—and is set for a move to Premier League side West Ham United, per Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb (h/t Metro's Jamie Sanderson)

The Hammers have reportedly offered £5.2 million for the midfielder, with Barca set to insert a buy-back clause worth £6.9 million—as they so often do with their youth players.

It would certainly be a good switch for Halilovic to make as he would gain experience in one of the world's top leagues, and he would no doubt be a better, more rounded player if and when he returns to Barca.