Koné and Pisilli set to form Roma's midfield future amid market uncertainty

Artem Dovbyk remains on the exit list at AS Roma, but the club has yet to receive a concrete offer meeting its valuation for the Ukrainian striker. According to reports, interested clubs have only submitted proposals for a straightforward loan, a formula Roma refuses to accept. The Giallorossi, who signed Dovbyk for approximately €40 million two years ago, intends to allow him to leave only on a permanent transfer or potentially on loan with a mandatory purchase clause. Dovbyk's departure stems from limited tactical cohesion with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The striker has drawn interest from Trabzonspor and Real Betis, though neither club has yet tabled an offer Roma considers acceptable. The impasse reflects the club's determination to recoup a significant portion of their initial investment rather than simply offload the player on a temporary basis. Details remain unclear regarding the timeline for resolution or whether Roma might adjust its stance if suitable alternatives emerge in the transfer market.

Bryan Zaragoza's time at Roma has ended without making a significant impact. The Spanish winger's spell in the capital has concluded as the club moves on from the experiment. Espanyol are reportedly considering a move for Zaragoza, with the possibility of reuniting him with Monchi, who holds a senior role at the La Liga club. Details of the transfer arrangement and timeline remain unclear, though the move appears to be progressing as Roma looks to resolve the situation with the Spanish player.

An analysis explores how many AS Roma players are expected to represent their nations at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States. With Italy failing to qualify, attention shifts to Roma's foreign contingent and their chances of World Cup selection. The piece examines which current squad members are likely to feature in the tournament and what their participation might mean for the club's schedule and player availability during the competition period.

Niccolò Pisilli, Roma's midfielder, was photographed enjoying lunch with Maurizio Mattioli, an Italian comedian and Roma supporter, in a moment that quickly gained traction on social media. The image sparked responses from Roma fans, with supporters commenting that the pair represented two important figures connected to the club. Pisilli is currently on vacation after recently returning from the Bahamas and is making the most of his downtime before the demands of the new season begin. The midfielder is resting and preparing ahead of Roma's pre-season training camp, which is scheduled to commence on 13 July. This break comes as Pisilli looks to gear up for what Roma expects to be a Champions League campaign in the coming season. The relaxation period forms part of his preparation for the competitive months ahead. Pisilli's vacation follows the typical pattern for squad players during the summer break, balancing recovery and informal social activities before the rigours of professional football resume. Roma fans appear pleased to see their young midfielder enjoying downtime in his home country before returning to action.

Neil El Aynaoui featured in all minutes of Morocco's first two World Cup matches and is determined to establish himself as a key midfielder at Roma following an inconsistent start to his Roma career. The midfielder's physical attributes—speed, dynamism, and work rate—align closely with Gasperini's tactical demands of high pressing, quick transitions, and two-phase play. At the World Cup, El Aynaoui ranks in the top five midfielders for tackles won (15) and defensive contributions (16), and dominated against Scotland alongside Saibari. At Roma, El Aynaoui has underperformed relative to his €25 million transfer fee, scoring sparingly despite averaging 8 goals in 24 appearances for Lens. His Roma struggles partly stem from Gasperini's tactical instructions to drop deeper for build-up play rather than push forward, where he was most dangerous at his previous club. Niccolò Pisilli is also expected to develop further in midfield, and the club may keep Manu Koné—despite interest from Arsenal, Tottenham, and Chelsea—to avoid excessive squad churn in that department. Gasperini expects a marked improvement from El Aynaoui and Pisilli as Roma aims to have four reliable starting midfielders for both Serie A and Champions League competition. El Aynaoui must regain the confidence and creative boldness he displays with Morocco, where he plays alongside the technically proficient Bouaddi. Ricky Massara assured supporters last summer: "He's strong, you will see."

Midfielder Koné is Roma's most likely departure this summer, with Atlético Madrid ready to meet the club's asking price of 45 million euros—potentially rising to 50 million with bonuses. The deal would generate a reported accounting gain of 33 million euros. However, Koné is delaying his decision, hoping to attract interest from Arsenal or Chelsea, though initial inquiries from those clubs have not progressed further. Roma has made clear it has no preference for any specific destination, provided an equivalent offer arrives by June 30. The club faces mounting pressure to offload players before the end-of-month deadline to ease financial constraints linked to a Settlement Agreement with UEFA. Other candidates for sale include Ndicka, Pisilli, Svilar, and Soulé, but none currently have firm offers on the table. The Friedkin Group is determined to close or significantly reduce the deficit to present a minimal shortfall to UEFA in December, allowing the club to settle the matter with a fine and squad restrictions. If Koné does not depart by June 30, he will remain at his current salary of 2.6 million euros per year. Matías Soulé remains on Roma's balance sheet at approximately 20 million euros. Borussia Dortmund has shown interest but would need to submit a proposal around 40 million euros to meet Roma's valuation—a figure no club has yet offered.