Champions League return could unlock €60m windfall for Gasperini's summer rebuild

Marash Kumbulla is set to leave Roma again after returning from his loan spell at Mallorca. The Albanian defender, who took part in the early stages of Roma's summer training camp at Trigoria, is among the club's surplus players as the Giallorossi seek to move him on. Three Spanish clubs have made enquiries: Rayo Vallecano, Levante and Elche. Matteo Moretto reports these approaches remain preliminary for now, though there is potential to accelerate negotiations in the coming weeks. Kumbulla's latest departure would mark a continuation of his pattern away from Trigoria. The 2000-born centre-back spent the last three seasons out on loan across Italy and Spain before his recent return from Mallorca. Roma's hierarchy has identified him as expendable, and the Spanish clubs' interest offers a potential route out. His contract with the club runs until 2028, giving Roma flexibility in structuring any move.

Roma have submitted a fresh bid of approximately €47 million plus bonuses for West Ham winger Summerville, with head coach Gasperini awaiting the Hammers' reply. The Dutch left-back has been a long-standing target for the Giallorossi, and sporting director D'Amico is pressing to secure the deal. Roma have prepared a contract worth over €4 million per year for Summerville, and the club are reluctant to raise their offer further. Gasperini identified the left flank as a priority need and has been waiting for this signing since last season. The move represents a significant investment in the winger's acquisition, though Roma's position suggests they believe their current terms are competitive. Summerville already holds an agreement with West Ham, potentially smoothing negotiations once the Hammers accept Roma's financial proposal. Optimism surrounds the deal's prospects, though final confirmation depends on West Ham's approval, which is expected to arrive soon. The transfer fee of €47 million plus performance-related add-ons forms the core of Roma's proposal, with personal terms already lined up to accelerate completion once both clubs reach consensus.

Angeliño has drawn close scrutiny from Gasperini during the early weeks of pre-season, with the Spanish left-back seeking to rebuild after injury limited him to extended spells on the sidelines last season. His performance in a friendly against Roma's Primavera raised concerns: he offered little attacking thrust down the left flank and displayed a physical condition below optimal levels, prompting the coach to continue assessing his progress throughout the week. Gasperini's wide players operate as full-backs fundamental to his tactical system, and Roma remain actively hunting for reinforcements on the left wing. Diego Moreira of Strasbourg is among the names being tracked with particular interest. An alternative scenario could unfold if Roma acquire a starter for the right flank following Zeki Çelik's departure; Gasperini might then deploy Wesley regularly on the left after his strong performances last season. Either option would significantly reduce Angeliño's pathway to minutes, potentially prompting him to consider leaving Trigoria. Spanish clubs including Deportivo La Coruña, Espanyol, and Betis have already made enquiries about the player.

Artem Dovbyk has begun the 2026–27 season at Roma following a lengthy injury layoff that sidelined him from February onwards. The Ukrainian striker was among the squad members who reported for pre-season training at Trigoria, where he appeared in a friendly against the Primavera and scored twice, with a third goal ruled out for a marginal offside decision. Although he was booed by some supporters reflecting his difficult two seasons at the club, Dovbyk now has an opportunity to rehabilitate his Roma career under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Dovbyk arrived in summer 2024 from Girona for a total fee of around €36 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in Roma's history. His first season yielded a respectable 17 goals across all competitions in 45 appearances, but the 2025–26 campaign proved far more disappointing, yielding only three Serie A goals in 14 appearances and one assist in European competition before his injury. At 189 cm tall, Dovbyk possesses a distinctly different physical profile from primary striker Donyell Malen and could operate as a relief option or even alongside the Dutch forward in certain tactical moments. His substantial wages make a departure difficult to arrange, but if he remains, Gasperini can deploy him as a reserve to provide cover and potentially relieve pressure on the player.

Roma's push to sign Summerville from West Ham dominated Roman radio debate, with negotiations reportedly moving toward a deal worth 40–45 million euros. Francesco Balzani reported that talks between Roma and West Ham are progressing well, with a potential agreement expected between that evening and the following day. He cautioned that while Aston Villa poses a theoretical threat, no formal approach had been made at that stage, and timing is crucial: closing the deal quickly eliminates risk, but delay invites competition. Opinion split sharply on the player's merits and tactical fit. Piero Torri expressed enthusiasm for a three-man attacking unit of Summerville on the left, Paulo Dybala on the right, and Donyell Malen centrally, saying: "Summerville a sinistra, Dybala a destra e Malen al centro: con questo tridente non devi mai alzare il pallone, ma per il resto comincio a sentire un certo piacere molto simile all'orgasmo." Others, including former striker Roberto Pruzzo, voiced scepticism, arguing Summerville lacks the decisive quality required and suggesting Roma should pursue alternatives. Claudio Ranieri's unsuccessful pursuit of Mason Greenwood last summer weighed heavily on radio commentary; multiple voices urged caution about repeating that failed chapter. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's measured stance at his press conference—neither dismissing market challenges nor criticising the club's financial strategy—drew careful analysis from Antonio Felici, who noted the manager's tactical alignment with the board on wage discipline.

Crysencio Summerville is poised to join Roma from West Ham, and the timing carries symbolic weight — the Dutch winger was born on 30 October 2001, the exact day Daniele De Rossi made his debut for the Giallorossi in a Champions League match against Anderlecht. Summerville also shares his birthday with Diego Armando Maradona. The 24-year-old left-winger, who cost West Ham €30 million, has been sidelined by a thigh injury that kept him out for the second half of last season, during which West Ham were relegated. He scored 21 goals in a single Championship season at Leeds, winning the division's Player of the Year award in 2023–24, and contributed seven goals across the Premier League and FA Cup during his first campaign with the Hammers. Summerville's arrival addresses a pressing need in Gasperin's squad. A right-footed left winger, he excels at dribbling past defenders and cutting infield to shoot near post or curl shots towards the far corner. He scored twice and provided two assists during the Netherlands' World Cup campaign in America, and contested the 2023 Under-21 Euros with fellow Roma signing Devyne Rensch, earning three caps together. Notably, Summerville faced Donyell Malen — now also at Roma — only once in the Premier League when Aston Villa beat West Ham 3–2 on 14 December 2025, a month before Malen's move to the capital. Having progressed through Feyenoord's academy, Summerville won the 2018 Under-17 Euros in England, scoring in the penalty-shootout final victory over Italy.

Paulo Dybala marked Argentina's 1–0 loss to Spain in a World Cup final by honouring Lionel Messi with a heartfelt social media post. The Roma forward shared a photograph of Messi after one of his two goals against England, accompanied by a white heart emoji in celebration of the 10's greatness. Dybala and Messi won the World Cup together in 2022. Despite this latest final ending in defeat for the Argentina squad, the Roma attacker moved quickly to acknowledge his former teammate's stature in the sport. The simple gesture underscored their shared history and Messi's standing as one of football's all-time greats.

Roma's push to sign Summerville from West Ham dominated Roman radio debate, with negotiations reportedly moving toward a deal worth 40–45 million euros. Francesco Balzani reported that talks between Roma and West Ham are progressing well, with a potential agreement expected between that evening and the following day. He cautioned that while Aston Villa poses a theoretical threat, no formal approach had been made at that stage, and timing is crucial: closing the deal quickly eliminates risk, but delay invites competition. Opinion split sharply on the player's merits and tactical fit. Piero Torri expressed enthusiasm for a three-man attacking unit of Summerville on the left, Paulo Dybala on the right, and Donyell Malen centrally, saying: "Summerville a sinistra, Dybala a destra e Malen al centro: con questo tridente non devi mai alzare il pallone, ma per il resto comincio a sentire un certo piacere molto simile all'orgasmo." Others, including former striker Roberto Pruzzo, voiced scepticism, arguing Summerville lacks the decisive quality required and suggesting Roma should pursue alternatives. Claudio Ranieri's unsuccessful pursuit of Mason Greenwood last summer weighed heavily on radio commentary; multiple voices urged caution about repeating that failed chapter. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's measured stance at his press conference—neither dismissing market challenges nor criticising the club's financial strategy—drew careful analysis from Antonio Felici, who noted the manager's tactical alignment with the board on wage discipline.

Alejandro Garnacho has made clear his preference for a transfer to Roma, rejecting an approach from Fiorentina. The Chelsea winger was officially offered to the Viola, but the Argentine responded with a categorical refusal, with Roma under Gian Piero Gasperini his sole focus. The prospect of playing Champions League football and linking up with fellow countrymen Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala at Trigoria holds total appeal for the attacker. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico has frozen the pursuit for now, with a significant structural gap between the clubs blocking progress. Roma, bolstered by a recent €46 million investment for Summerville, wishes to avoid further balance-sheet strain and is evaluating the deal solely on a loan basis with a right of purchase. Chelsea, by contrast, is pushing for an outright permanent sale to generate immediate revenue. Without concrete financial offers capable of swaying the London club, the operation remains on hold. Roma intends to return to the attack only at the end of the transfer window should Chelsea soften their stance on a temporary arrangement under more favourable terms.

Lorenzo Pellegrini is set to sign a new contract with AS Roma within the coming days, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini awaiting the midfielder's signature. The outline terms have been agreed and only final administrative details remain before completion. The new deal will run until June 2028 and carry an annual salary of €2.5 million. It will also include an automatic renewal option to extend the agreement through to 2029, following the same stability framework Roma previously applied in Gianluca Mancini's renewal. The extension moves will definitively end speculation over Pellegrini's future and remove any possibility of his departure from the club.

AS Roma is close to finalizing a new contract with Lorenzo Pellegrini after the midfielder rejected approaches from Juventus and Besiktas. The club's hierarchy expressed strong confidence in sealing the extension within the coming week, ending speculation over his future at the club. The broad terms of the agreement have been settled, with only final administrative details remaining before signatures. Pellegrini will receive a new deal running until June 2028 on wages of €2.5 million per year. The contract will include an automatic renewal option to extend the agreement through to 2029, mirroring the approach Roma adopted for Gianluca Mancini's recent renewal.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract renewal with Roma remains deadlocked, with the club offering a two-year deal while the 30-year-old captain seeks a three-year agreement after accepting a significant wage reduction. Having been sidelined last summer before being recalled by Gian Piero Gasperini, Pellegrini has been a free agent for 20 days and has turned down interest from Juventus, Napoli, and Inter—all of whom have made approaches—because he wants only Roma. Gasperini warned in a press conference on Saturday that delays are unhelpful and called for the contract to be resolved quickly, hoping to have the number 7 back in the squad soon. The delay has prompted a banner from the Roma ultras group to appear at Trigoria reading: "Fare un errore può succedere, ripeterlo vuol dire approssimazione. Teniamoci stretto Lorenzo" [Making a mistake can happen, repeating it means carelessness. Let's hold tight to Lorenzo]. Unlike Pellegrini's stalled talks, midfielder Bryan Cristante has signed a new contract through 2028, posting on social media: "Roma and the Roma, for me and my family, are home. A happy place... the city of my children... I prefer to speak little and demonstrate my attachment through sweat, but this bond until 2028 means something special to me: eternal love. I have always given everything for Roma and will continue to do so. I am honoured to continue my journey in giallorosso, a world that is and will always be home."