Balerdi expected today as Roma push for left winger

RB Leipzig have submitted a formal proposal to Roma for midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, offering a loan with an obligation to buy. According to Fabrizio Romano, the German club has tabled the offer and talks between the parties are ongoing to establish whether a deal can be reached. El Aynaoui had been flagged as a potential departure in the final stages of the transfer window. Roma had previously shown greater openness to a permanent sale, so the club must now decide whether to negotiate on Leipzig's loan-plus-obligation formula or push for different terms. The structure of the proposal represents a key consideration for the Roma hierarchy, as it differs from the outright transfer the club had indicated as preferable in recent days. El Aynaoui was among the squad members identified as potentially leaving before the close of the window. The coming hours will reveal whether Leipzig can move closer to Roma's demands and convert the initial inquiry into an agreement.

Roma are accelerating their search for an attacking reinforcement this summer. Beyond ongoing talks over a midfielder, the club is pushing to secure an offensive signing. Jamie Leweling of Stuttgart has re-entered their radar, with contacts reported between the two parties. The 2001-born winger was already on Roma's list and now features alongside Luiz Henrique of Zenit and Gittens as a striker target, for whom a fresh attempt is planned. Leweling is one of three candidates being actively considered. Roma had explored other options but found some difficult to pursue: Gittens presents complications, while Fofana did not warrant a firm approach. The club will make one more push for Gittens before drawing final conclusions on their attacking priority. According to Alfredo Pedullà, the Stuttgart forward's profile has come back into focus as Roma weigh their options across multiple positions in the final weeks of the transfer window.

Roma have reopened discussions over Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos as the transfer window enters its final hours. The Benfica player, previously tracked by the club, has returned to the agenda of director Tony D'Amico in recent days. According to Sky Sport and Gianluca Di Marzio, Benfica are open to allowing Ríos to leave on loan, a formula that could make the deal attractive for Roma. Besiktas are also competing for the player's signature. The move is directly linked to Roma's ongoing efforts to offload Neil El Aynaoui, with whom Leipzig are in contact. If the Moroccan midfielder's departure is completed, it would free up important squad space under Gian Piero Gasperini and create an urgent need for reinforcement in the centre of the park. Roma have already initiated concrete talks with both Benfica and Ríos's representatives to establish the conditions for bringing him to Trigoria. Ríos represents a familiar solution to Roma's management and has suddenly become viable thanks to Benfica's willingness to discuss a temporary arrangement. Much depends on how the El Aynaoui-Leipzig negotiation unfolds; if that sale goes through, director D'Amico will need to deliver a new midfielder to Gasperini quickly. With Besiktas in the running and minimal time remaining in the market, the coming hours could prove decisive.

RB Leipzig have submitted a formal proposal to Roma for midfielder Neil El Aynaoui, offering a loan with an obligation to buy. According to Fabrizio Romano, the German club has tabled the offer and talks between the parties are ongoing to establish whether a deal can be reached. El Aynaoui had been flagged as a potential departure in the final stages of the transfer window. Roma had previously shown greater openness to a permanent sale, so the club must now decide whether to negotiate on Leipzig's loan-plus-obligation formula or push for different terms. The structure of the proposal represents a key consideration for the Roma hierarchy, as it differs from the outright transfer the club had indicated as preferable in recent days. El Aynaoui was among the squad members identified as potentially leaving before the close of the window. The coming hours will reveal whether Leipzig can move closer to Roma's demands and convert the initial inquiry into an agreement.

Roma have reopened discussions over Colombian midfielder Richard Ríos as the transfer window enters its final hours. The Benfica player, previously tracked by the club, has returned to the agenda of director Tony D'Amico in recent days. According to Sky Sport and Gianluca Di Marzio, Benfica are open to allowing Ríos to leave on loan, a formula that could make the deal attractive for Roma. Besiktas are also competing for the player's signature. The move is directly linked to Roma's ongoing efforts to offload Neil El Aynaoui, with whom Leipzig are in contact. If the Moroccan midfielder's departure is completed, it would free up important squad space under Gian Piero Gasperini and create an urgent need for reinforcement in the centre of the park. Roma have already initiated concrete talks with both Benfica and Ríos's representatives to establish the conditions for bringing him to Trigoria. Ríos represents a familiar solution to Roma's management and has suddenly become viable thanks to Benfica's willingness to discuss a temporary arrangement. Much depends on how the El Aynaoui-Leipzig negotiation unfolds; if that sale goes through, director D'Amico will need to deliver a new midfielder to Gasperini quickly. With Besiktas in the running and minimal time remaining in the market, the coming hours could prove decisive.

Roma are revisiting their interest in Colombian midfielder Richard Rios as they reshape their transfer targets this summer. With Neil El Aynaoui facing an increasingly likely departure to Leipzig, the club are exploring alternatives in midfield. Rios, who was at the centre of a protracted transfer saga last summer before joining Benfica, is now available on loan according to reports. Contacts are ongoing between Roma and Benfica, as well as directly with Rios's representatives. Turkish side Besiktas are also pursuing the player. El Aynaoui's potential exit has accelerated Roma's search for reinforcement in the middle of the park, even as the club continues to prioritise attacking recruitment. According to Fabrizio Romano, discussions between Roma and Leipzig for El Aynaoui are progressing on the basis of a loan with a purchase option. Roma are also exploring a separate target, André, though details of that approach remain limited.

Neil El Aynaoui is in concrete danger of leaving Roma, with Crystal Palace having made an official opening bid structured as a loan with a right of purchase that could become mandatory on certain conditions. The offer does not satisfy Roma's valuation of €30–35 million, which demands either an outright sale or a guaranteed obligation to buy. Bayer Leverkusen has also registered interest, while Saudi Arabian clubs approached the player in recent days. The significance of a potential departure extends far beyond a single transaction: it would mark the near-complete dismantling of the squad assembled by sporting director Frederic Massara just one year ago. El Aynaoui was signed from Lens for €23 million plus €2 million in add-ons in summer 2025, representing one of Massara's principal investments alongside a lengthy pursuit of midfielder Richard Rios, who had been identified by coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Within twelve months the landscape has shifted entirely. El Aynaoui has not become a central figure in Gasperini's Roma, and a sale in the €30–35 million range would recover the original investment and generate a profit useful for UEFA financial compliance. Yet the sale would crystallise a broader pattern: the systematic removal of Massara's summer 2025 recruits—Wesley, Daniele Ghilardi, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Jan Ziółkowski, and others—in favour of a squad more precisely aligned with Gasperini's demands. Of that original cohort, only Wesley and Donyell Malen (signed in January 2026) remain unchallenged, both having received Gasperini's direct endorsement. Bailey departed in January; Ferguson and Kostas Tsimikas returned to their parent clubs; Zaragoza, Venturino, and Zelezny have left; Ziółkowski is bound for Monza; Robinio Vaz has reached an agreement with Hull City on a paid loan with a right of purchase. The article frames the matter as a fundamental mismatch between Gasperini's precise tactical requirements—intensity, one-on-one strength, athleticism, aggression, defensive commitment in open play, and position-specific qualities—and Massara's recruitment trajectory. El Aynaoui, at 25 years old and in his prime with genuine international market interest from Crystal Palace and Bayer Leverkusen, is scarcely a failed signing; a €35 million sale on a €25 million net spend is not a financial disaster. Yet the underlying tension is unavoidable: when a coach considers almost all his sporting director's signings from one year expendable within the next twelve months, something fundamental in the original construction has failed. A sale of El Aynaoui would convert a principal investment from the previous summer into capital to reinvest in a midfield and attacking flank now sought by Gasperini. The article poses a critical question as Roma seek to correct course: how much would it have cost to build a coherent squad aligned with Gasperini from the outset, rather than spending a year acquiring, waiting, selling, and repurchasing? Sporting director Tony D'Amico must construct a roster that is recognisable, coherent, and durable, because Roma has already consumed a year absorbing marketplace misalignment. Should El Aynaoui depart, Wesley and Malen will stand as the principal survivors—both chosen with Gasperini's strong approval.

Roma will not strengthen their wing-back options before the transfer window closes, barring late surprises. With Devyne Rensch sidelined by a left flexor injury, Gian Piero Gasperini will rely on four defenders to cover the flanks until January: Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina on the right, and Wesley on the left. Molina featured prominently in Roma's opening match against Fiorentina last Monday, while Lulli has also impressed in recent action. The Oosterwolde deal collapsed following additional medical checks, and with Balerdi's arrival imminent to complete the centre-back contingent, Roma have decided against further recruitment in the defensive ranks. The club's focus has instead shifted to signing an attacking left winger rather than a fourth midfield full-back, a decision made in light of the positive performances from Lulli. Any further wing signings remain possible in the final days of the market, but none is planned at present.

Roma's prospects for the 2026–27 season drew mixed assessments from prominent radio commentators on 29 August, with particular focus on the squad's readiness and the still-unresolved left-wing forward slot. Roberto Pruzzo told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma are "a strong squad, stronger still if they sign the left-sided forward," but stressed the importance of Paulo Dybala's physical condition: "I have the feeling that much of what will make Roma stronger than last season will depend on Dybala's condition more than the transfer campaign. Castro is one of the best available on the market; I'm convinced he'll have more playing time than people think. I hope Rodrigo Mora gains confidence and personality." Sandro Sabatini, also on Radio Radio Mattino, was harsher: "The left-sided forward position at Roma has become a joke—it's been going on for over a year and a half and still hasn't been filled. A Dybala like the one we saw against Fiorentina, we haven't seen in ten years. Mora's start pleased me, but if the shirt had said Baldanzi on it we'd have talked about a good Baldanzi performance. He certainly stood out with meticulous marking of Fagioli." Earlier on Radio Radio pomeriggio, Giancarlo Padovan remarked that Roma were "the team that played best among those who featured on the opening day," and that Gasperini's tactical approach, "once absorbed by the players, is an idea that can take them far. I don't know if it's in the Champions League or the domestic campaign, but Rome can get into the top 24, and after that we'll see." Luca Marchetti noted the squad's structure under Gasperini: "one piece is still missing, at the level of names that warning light keeps flashing." He praised Mora as "strong and bold—someone not physically structured, who reads the play early." Paolo Cannavaro discussed the left-back situation: Wesley was initially deployed at right-back, but no replacement has arrived; without a signing, Devyne Rensch will play left-back as "an adapted player." Federico Camelio raised tactical concerns: "Mora is not a winger, not a Papu Gómez, nothing like him. The manager has made two choices on the flank and still nobody arrives." Daniele Ordine suggested if the market deals close as expected—"adding a Kessié and not selling Koné"—Roma would field "a squad of real substance" capable of reaching the knockout stages.

Roma have completed the signing of Leonardo Balerdi on loan from Marseille. The Argentine defender will join on a loan deal worth €1 million, with a right of rescission that can become an obligation based on certain conditions. The rescission fee is variable between €12 million and €15 million. Balerdi will arrive at Ciampino airport and undergo medical tests before signing his contract. Balerdi is Roma's fifth summer acquisition, following Santiago Castro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina, and Rodrigo Mora. The club remains active in the transfer market with other targets still being pursued. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini continues to press for a left-winger, a position the club has lacked for six years. Sky Sport reports Roma are close to meeting Zenit's demands for an unnamed left-sided player, whose transfer fee stands at €40 million and who earns €4 million annually. Negotiations over player agreement are ongoing. In midfield, Roma hold an agreement with Fofana and are pushing for a loan with a right of rescission, though Lyon have not yet accepted this formula. Meanwhile, Sunderland have recently entered the race for a Belgian player as an alternative to Igor Paixao of Marseille, according to FootMercato. Hull City maintain strong interest and have already tabled a €35 million offer to the French club. Gigi Garzya, a former player with strong ties to Roma, stated on the remaining market window: "It is early to say where Roma can reach in their second year under Gasperini's leadership, and the market may not yet be finished. We must see what the other teams do by the closing date. Certainly we must do everything to maintain the Champions League position, because Roma must play regularly in this competition."

Leonardo Balerdi, an Argentine defender, arrived at Rome's Ciampino airport on 29 August 2026 to complete his transfer to AS Roma. He is the club's fifth summer signing, following Santiago Castro, Konstantinos Koulierakis, Nahuel Molina and Rodrigo Mora. Balerdi joins on a loan deal worth €1 million, with a right of redemption that can become an obligation under certain conditions. The redemption fee ranges from €12 million to €15 million. The 24-year-old will undergo the standard medical examination before signing his contract with the giallorossi. The transfer represents Roma's continued investment in their defensive options ahead of the 2026–27 season, during which the club compete in the UEFA Champions League.

Former Roma and Lecce player Gigi Garzya has warned that Roma must be ready for an opponent who gives nothing away when the sides meet on Monday. Speaking ahead of the match, Garzya praised Lecce's performance in their opening away win at Venezia, saying the team of Di Francesco "remained in the game with the right mentality and lucidity that weighed heavily in the final half-hour". He highlighted Olaf Gorter as a player who impressed with both quality and personality, and noted the arrival of Ilić as evidence of Lecce's focus on adding strength in the transfer market. On Roma's prospects under Gian Piero Gasperini in his second season, Garzya acknowledged the squad has been reinforced, though he described Zeki Çelik's departure as a "heavy" loss—while backing Nahuel Molina to compensate with his quality and competitive drive. He was effusive about midfielder Rodrigo Mora, saying: "Technically he has numbers that make him an important prospect; one characteristic struck me more than others: he is the type of player you do not see frequently in the various leagues, because his thinking arrives first, and consequently he then makes the ball travel in an unpredictable way for opponents. When people say he is a bit light physically, they forget that the most important characteristic is playing the ball always with some instant of anticipation for whoever controls it." On the defence, Garzya explained that Konstantinos Koulierakis represents a deliberate and necessary choice rather than mere cover: "This year, with the Champions League, you need at least six established defenders in the department, calculating also that the game starts from the back, there are so many matches and Gasperini's football is very demanding in every role. The choice was targeted; the Roma coach never approves a signing just to make up numbers." Regarding Roma's ambitions, Garzya urged caution: "It is too early to say and ultimately the transfer market may not be finished yet; let's also see what the others do by the close; certainly you must do everything to maintain Champions League qualification, because Roma must play this competition regularly. Then we'll see if appetite comes with eating."