Balerdi deal closing as Oosterwolde move revives

Roma have put negotiations for Lyon winger Malick Fofana on hold after growing concerned about the financial terms of a move. The Belgian has been Roma's primary target in recent weeks, but the club's sporting director has begun considering a rapid pivot to Gittens instead. Lyon contacted Roma this morning to push the Fofana deal forward, according to Alfredo Pedullà, but the giallorossi are reflecting on the economic aspects of the operation and have shelved the agreement temporarily. Lyon's asking price exceeds €35 million, though the French club are under pressure to sell for balance-sheet reasons and manager Fonseca has signalled openness to letting the attacking winger depart. Other clubs are also in contention for Fofana, further complicating Roma's pursuit.

Neil El Aynaoui has attracted interest from two European clubs in the final days of the transfer window. Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen have both expressed interest in the Roma midfielder, according to journalist Nicolò Schira. The English Premier League side has been monitoring the Moroccan for several days, and the German Bundesliga champions have now joined the race. Both clubs have made enquiries and gathered information on El Aynaoui's situation. Roma have not yet received any official offers for the 2001-born midfielder from either club. Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen have limited their approach to soundings and expressions of interest, with no formal negotiations underway. The interest extends across two of Europe's top competitions — Premier League and Bundesliga clubs are tracking his profile — but no concrete proposal for his transfer has been tabled so far. The focus remains firmly on preliminary discussions and information-gathering at this stage. With the summer transfer window drawing to a close, it remains unclear whether either side will move to a concrete approach. Roma are waiting to see if one of the two clubs decides to submit an official bid or whether their interest will remain purely exploratory. For now, the situation is confined to the early phases of the market, without any real negotiations having begun.

AS Roma are signing Nicolás Balerdi from Olympique Marseille as financial pressure forces the French club to sell. The centre-back will arrive at Trigoria as backup to Evan N'Dicka but can play across multiple defensive positions, including right-side centre-back in Gasperini's three-man defence. Under De Zerbi last season, Balerdi was one of Ligue 1's standout defenders, recording a pass accuracy of 92% and recovering 5.4 balls per 90 minutes. He frequently operated as a primary playmaker from the centre, averaging 82 touches per match. Roma have struggled to build play from the back since Paredes departed and lack a recognised deep midfielder—Balerdi's range of passing and composure in possession could become a key asset in Gasperini's system.

Roma are finalising the signing of Leonardo Balerdi from Olympique Marseille, with the deal entering its final stages. Tony D'Amico has negotiated a loan with an obligation to buy subject to certain conditions being met. The move comes after Roma abandoned their pursuit of Jayden Oosterwolde, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini seeking to strengthen his defence in the closing days of the transfer window. Bareldi, a 1999-born Argentine right-footed defender, can play as a centre-back and brings the aggression in pressing, ability to support attacks, and composure in building play that Gasperini requires for a defence operating high up the pitch. The loan deal with conditional obligation represents a different approach to the Oosterwolde pursuit but allows Gasperini to add a defender with significant international experience to his squad. An initial one-year contract plus four further years, binding Balerdi to Roma until 2031, has already been agreed. The deal would be completed in the final days of the market, following the collapse of Roma's earlier operation, the Fenerbahçe deal. According to Nicolò Schira, the transfer is now in its closing stages and could be confirmed shortly.

Roma and Fenerbahce have reportedly reached a fresh agreement to move Dutch defender Jayden Oosterwolde to the Turkish club, according to Voetbal International. The deal would require final approval from the player on new contract terms Roma's representatives have proposed to his representatives. Oosterwolde arrived at Roma but never began his time with the club after failing to pass advanced medical checks. He has since returned to Istanbul. The Roma club has issued a firm denial of any agreement with Fenerbahce, stating from their Trigoria training base that there is no understanding with the Turkish side and the player's situation remains unresolved.

Roma's pursuit of a left-sided attacking midfielder dominates transfer discussion across Rome radio as the summer window approaches its final days. Commentators on Tele Radio Stereo, Rete Sport and Radio Radio debate whether Gasperini will land his primary target—a wide forward he has been seeking for 15 months—or be forced into a late compromise. Lorenzo Pes stated: "Between Gittens and Fofana, the first is preferred especially by the coach. As long as there is time to do it, Roma will try to construct the operation with Chelsea. The English club has not yet given openings, but Roma will continue to push. If it becomes clear there will be no margin, then we will go to Fofana. The agreement there you had already found. But Gittens has the financial and technical favour, and for this remains the favourite. The two clubs have good relations." Pes added that Gittens would arrive on loan if a deal is struck in the final hours of the market. Alessio Nardo expressed frustration at the extended delay. "Surreal this situation. Gasperini has been asking for this attacking winger profile for 15 months. The important thing is not to find ourselves taking the Zaragoza of the moment on the last day of the market. You must take someone strong, an added starter and not the last leftover that happens to you. You are still in serious delay—we are at the end of a very long transfer campaign and you are still missing that player there. It has become a novel. It would be grotesque to end up with the short end of the stick, and even more demoralizing to take the Zaragoza of the moment at the last." Gianluca Piacentini noted that Roma correctly declined to sign Oosterwolde and that Gasperini likely prefers a player with different physical characteristics than Mora, making Fofana an option—though Gittens's loan structure makes him likely to arrive only in the final window hours if at all. Francesca Ferrazza reported that Roma has neither confirmed nor denied interest in Kessié or Fofana, describing the situation as "very very complicated" and dependent on other pieces falling into place. She also noted that Gasperini's reaction to El Aynaoui's approach in training "does not drive him crazy," raising questions about the winger's future. Piero Torri suggested Kessié's agent approached Roma as leverage to accelerate Juventus's interest, implying Roma is being used in a negotiating game. Roberto Pruzzo expressed scepticism about Kessié's fit for Serie A and backed the idea of selling El Aynaoui if Roma can bring in a player with different strengths. He predicted a 2–0 Lecce result, while Nando Orsi suggested De Roon as an unconventional alternative despite his 35 years and predicted a draw. Checco Oddo Casano warned Roma could be left empty-handed if decisions do not come before Friday and the weekend fixture congestion dilutes focus. The club remains without a fifth defender and a left-sided midfielder as the window enters its final stretch.