Çelik's departure forces Roma into accelerated defensive overhaul
Transfer News·18 July 2026·1d ago

Çelik's departure forces Roma into accelerated defensive overhaul

Source: Roma News

Zeki Çelik's unexpected departure has created an urgent tactical void at Roma, forcing the club to completely revise its transfer strategy. The Turkish defender's exit has left head coach Gian Piero Gasperini short-handed across both full-back positions and the centre-back line, with only Daniele Ghilardi and Jan Ziółkowski available as backup defenders. The current starting trio of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso cannot carry the entire defensive load alone, prompting the sporting director to accelerate recruitment across multiple fronts.

Roma is now actively pursuing two external fullbacks and a central defender to shore up the squad. Dodo of Fiorentina remains a hot target, valued at over €15 million, alongside the versatile Carlos Augusto and Diego Moreira of Strasbourg, for whom a gap persists between Roma's €30 million offer and the French club's higher demands. Fenerbahçe centre-back Oosterwolde has moved back into focus as a priority signing to bolster a defence suddenly bereft of depth and certainty following Çelik's surprise exit.

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Testo Originale / Source Text

Il caso Celik ha aperto un vuoto tattico importante a Trigoria, trasformando una sessione di mercato che sembrava lineare in una vera emergenza. L’addio del turco, arrivato all’improvviso quando tutto sembrava definito, ha scosso l’ambiente giallorosso. Ora la Roma è costretta a rivedere in fretta…

Read the full article in Italian at Roma News.

Read original on Roma News

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