Arsenal join the race for Endrick, Arteta pushing for a January move

Chelsea have finally opened the door to loaning out winger Jamie Gittens, and Roma could make a fresh move for the 22-year-old after being turned down at the start of September, according to Football Insider as reported by Italian outlet coverage. Gittens is well liked at Trigoria, and the Blues would reportedly be willing to let him leave as early as January. Roma's list of attacking targets, drawn up by sporting director D'Amico, still includes Endrick and Lookman alongside Gittens. However, Gasperini's preference remains the Real Madrid Brazilian Endrick, who is reportedly in pole position in his plans. Gittens has yet to play a single minute in the Premier League. Unlike some of the other candidates, there are serious doubts over his physical fitness after another ankle injury that is slowing his development. The Englishman enjoyed three outstanding seasons at Borussia Dortmund before arriving in London.

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico has been forced to withdraw from the Social Football Summit in Turin because of flu-like symptoms. He had been announced as a guest at the event, where he was due to speak at 12.30 alongside Sky Sport journalists Gianluca Di Marzio and Luca Marchetti, but he had to decline the invitation. On Monday, the club's chief business officer Gandler and head of institutional relations Lucia Bernabé spoke on the stage at the summit. The absence comes at a busy time for the club, with a transfer-market meeting planned at Trigoria in the coming days involving head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the ownership. Ryan Friedkin is also expected in the capital for those discussions.

Roma are reportedly monitoring Atlético Madrid winger Ademola Lookman as his playing time at the Spanish club has steadily dwindled, with the Nigerian emerging as a possible alternative to Endrick, who remains at the top of the Giallorossi wish list for January. Repubblica.it reported the story today. Roma are said to be searching for an attacking winger who can add pace, quality and unpredictability to the attack. Lookman played a key role in some of the best seasons of his career under Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta, and the report links him directly to the Roma coach. He has made 15 appearances across La Liga and the Champions League this season, scoring two goals and providing one assist. Those figures are modest for a player who, in his first months in Madrid, had shown he could be an important figure for Diego Simeone. The clearest sign of his struggles came in Atlético's most recent league match against Barcelona. Lookman sat on the bench for the full 90 minutes of the 2-1 defeat and was not called on even as the game was still in progress. It was the first time this season that he had not found a place in a match. Meanwhile, Álex Baena is gaining ground on the left flank in Simeone's pecking order. Simeone, however, has recently reiterated his confidence in Lookman, highlighting his qualities in one-on-one situations. No transfer requests from the player have been reported, nor has Atlético shown any willingness to let him go. Lookman's career at Atalanta is the key reference point. He became one of the most incisive forwards in European football there, using his ability to start on the left, cut inside and attack the goal with speed and great efficiency. The peak of his time in Bergamo remains the hat-trick he scored in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, which gave La Dea a historic trophy. The relationship with Gasperini has not always been smooth. In February 2025, after Lookman missed a penalty against Bruges in the Champions League, Gasperini criticised his decision to take the kick harshly, prompting a public reply from the player. That episode, the report says, does not erase the work the two did together or Lookman's remarkable growth under the coach. From a technical standpoint, the report says Lookman would fit many of Gasperini's requirements. He is a right-footed attacking winger, quick, skilful in dribbling and capable of creating numerical superiority from the left flank, exactly the kind of player the coach has been asking for over recent months to complete the attacking unit. Compared with Endrick, Lookman would bring greater experience and a deep understanding of the coach's systems. The financial terms of any deal still need to be assessed. Lookman is tied to Atlético Madrid, and Roma must respect precise financial constraints, favouring formulas for January that keep the immediate outlay down. A loan could be a route worth exploring, but there is currently no indication that the Spanish club would accept that solution. For now, Roma are monitoring developments, and the report describes Lookman as a name that could gain weight if the situation in Madrid changes. Gasperini knows the Nigerian's value well and how to get the most from his qualities.