La Maggica new coach Luciano Spalleti has revealed that he wants to keep Ivorian striker Gervinho amid reports linking the player to a move to China.

Jiangsu Suning has tendered an $11 million offer to get the services of the Gervinho, and an agreement could be completed to close the deal over the next three or four days time.

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Roma sacked French coach Rudi Garcia after a poor run during which the side managed to win only one out of ten matches in all competitions. Garcia bought Gervinho from Arsenal in 2011 and there are speculations that the Ivorian is not happy with the departure of his former mentor.

While Spalleti is anxious to keep Gervinho in his squad, he accepts the idea that the 28-year-old Ivory Coast international may be determined to move on, according to ESPN.

"He's an important player and I could do with two of him," the French coach said. "These things happen in the transfer market, but if it were up to me I would not sell him. Then it can happen that a player comes to you and asks to be sold."

Spalletti started his club management career with Italian professional football club Empol between July 1993 and June 1998. He led the Tuscan side to two consecutive promotions from Serie C1 to Serie A.

He also managed Sampdoria, guiding the Blucerchiati from July 1998 to June 1999 and spent a short stint with Venezia from July to October 1999.

Spalleti also coached Udinese and Ancona before becoming the coach of Roma in June 2005 until September 2009 for the first time.

He joined the Russian football club Zenit Saint Petersburg following his spell with Roma in December 2009.

TagsLa Maggica, Luciano Spalleti, Rudi Garcia, Roma