Brugge reject Roma's €35m bid for Tresoldi

Roma's transfer window remains stalled a month into the season, with no new signings completed despite ongoing talks. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has prioritised the signing of a left winger, a position the club has been actively pursuing following the collapse of moves for other targets. Napoli offered Roma the services of Noa Lang, who spent the previous season on loan at Galatasaray and is surplus to requirements under Napoli's new manager Allegri. However, Roma's leadership immediately rejected the proposal, with Gasperini particularly unconvinced by the Dutch winger's profile. The top target remains Antonio Nusa, though RB Leipzig is demanding at least €60 million for the player.

Roma have turned down the opportunity to sign Noa Lang from Napoli as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's hunt for a new attacking winger continues. Transfers for Mason Greenwood and Yankuba Summerville have fallen through, leaving the club focused on other targets. The Dutch winger does not appeal to Gasperini and will not be considered for selection. The primary focus remains on securing a long-term solution on the flank for the coming season. Lenny Nusa of RB Leipzig continues to be viewed as an ideal fit, though negotiations are proving difficult due to Leipzig's high demands—the German club is seeking approximately 60 million euros. The challenging valuation has stalled progress on that front. Lang, who spent the latter part of the previous season on loan at Galatasaray, does not feature in Napoli's plans going forward under manager Allegri, making him available for transfer. However, Roma's decision to decline the offer signals Gasperini's specific tactical and stylistic preferences for the role.

Leading voices on Rome's radio stations have cast doubt on winger Nusa as a genuine target for Roma, with several pundits suggesting the club is using the link as cover for its actual recruitment plans. Francesco Balzani declared: "I think Nusa is all smoke and mirrors, I believe there are few chances of seeing him at Roma." The debate reflects wider concern that Roma are behind schedule in their summer transfer strategy, with concerns also raised about the club's economic competitiveness against European rivals and the risk that players are using Roma as leverage to secure better deals elsewhere. Lorenzo Pes was most direct on the Nusa question: "Nusa doesn't convince me from a physical standpoint. I think Nusa is a smokescreen to try to stay more hidden on the real targets. For me the real names are others." The panel highlighted a broader recruitment puzzle under new head coach Gasperini, with confusion over whether the club intends to pursue marquee forwards such as Castro or instead focus on second-tier talent with upside. Mario Mattioli stressed that Italian football cannot compete economically with Europe and that chasing top-tier players is futile. Roberto Pruzzo was more critical of Roma's approach, suggesting players may be exploiting the club: "When you have an agreement with the player you feel protected, but it's not like that, and the recent situations are proving it."

Vice-president Ryan Friedkin arrived at Roma's Trigoria training ground on 14 July to inject momentum into the summer transfer window, having successfully brokered deals during his January visit — most notably the arrival of Donyell Malen, who played a central role in Roma's push to the Champions League. This summer's mission has proved less fruitful. Two primary targets, Greenwood and Summerville, have already fallen through, with the American ownership expressing doubts about spending €50 million on the latter. Roma have also suffered the blow of Çelik signing with Juventus despite an oral agreement being in place. Gasperini had been awaiting Friedkin's arrival on 13 July, the first day of pre-season. With the window stalling, Friedkin has already returned to the United States within the past 48 hours, and no return date has yet been set. He may attend Cannes–Roma, a pre-season friendly between the two Friedkin-owned clubs, on Sunday, though that remains uncertain. The new transfer target is now Nusa, and Ryan will monitor negotiations from afar.

Roma's ownership structure continues to hamper the club's ability to complete signings quickly, with the Friedkin family's distance from day-to-day operations and lengthy decision-making processes costing the club priority targets. Head coach Gasperini and sporting director D'Amico had identified Greenwood as a key target, but bureaucratic delays allowed Fenerbahçe to move faster and secure the player instead. Similar patterns have recurred across multiple transfer windows: under Mourinho, moves for Xhaka and McTominay stalled; under Ghisolfi and De Rossi, Konè and Saelemaekers arrived only on the final day of the market (Saelemaekers on loan, partly due to late timing); and under Massara, deals involving Rios and Sancho evaporated. Al-Hilal's sudden intervention for Summerville further highlighted how Roma struggles to compete when Eastern clubs inject massive resources. With the campaign beginning in one month, Roma faces significant squad gaps: a left winger remains unsigned (with Nusa becoming the latest protracted saga), and the club still needs two full-backs, a backup for Malen, and another senior attacking midfielder. The ownership's pattern of delayed approvals for financial commitments, compounded by ongoing settlement agreements and wage-bill constraints, means Roma enters the season undermanned. Gasperini and D'Amico had prepared the groundwork, awaiting only the owner's cheque. As Roma heads into its centenary year with Champions League qualification as an objective, the structural delay in decision-making threatens to undermine those ambitions from the outset.

Roma are pushing to sign Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Brugge as they hunt for a deputy to Donyell Malen. An in-principle agreement has been reached with the 2004-born forward to fend off competition from Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid. Crucially, Tresoldi's father is backing the move to Italy, strengthening Roma's hand in negotiations. The sticking point remains Brugge's valuation. Sporting director D'Amico has offered 25 million euros, but the Belgian club is demanding a further 10 million on top. If the Tresoldi deal stalls, Roma have identified Riccardo Castro of Bologna as an alternative, though the Emilia-Romagna side are demanding 40 million euros. Meanwhile, Roma are also reshaping their striker options: Artem Dovbyk is available for departure, and academy product Robinio Vaz could move out on loan.