Roma must strengthen their defence as well as attack

Mason Greenwood is expected to depart Marseille after two seasons, with Roma among the clubs pursuing the English forward. According to French newspaper La Provence, Greenwood has returned the keys to his home near Aix-en-Provence before departing for vacation, signalling an imminent exit from the club. While Greenwood thrived during his time in France, Marseille's financial constraints and attractive offers from abroad—notably Roma—are driving the anticipated move. Roma head coach Gasperini has identified Greenwood as a target to elevate the squad's quality and compete for immediate success. However, a significant gap remains in negotiations. Marseille are seeking €55 million overall, accounting for a substantial portion (approximately 40%) owed to Manchester United. Roma's initial proposal is around €10 million lower, positioned as a starting point for formal talks. The club awaits the official appointment of Tony D'Amico and resolution of financial fair play concerns before advancing negotiations. The recent withdrawal of Fenerbahce from the race provides Roma with additional time to pursue the deal, though other major clubs including Atlético Madrid and Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal remain potential threats to the transfer. Details on the exact timing and structure of any offer remain unclear.

Roma legend Roberto Pruzzo and commentator Torri have weighed in on the club's current situation. Pruzzo called on sporting director D'Amico to identify the next standout talent, comparing the need to the arrival of Donyell Malen. Torri suggested the coming week could prove decisive for contract renewal negotiations at the Giallorossi. The comments reflect ongoing discussions about Roma's transfer strategy and squad planning as the club balances recruitment with securing key players. Details of specific renewals or targets remain unclear.

Roma are monitoring Baris Alper Yilmaz, the 24-year-old Galatasaray and Turkey winger, as they continue their summer recruitment drive. The player enjoyed an impressive 2024–25 season with 8 goals and 12 assists in the Turkish league. However, Galatasaray has valued him at €45–50 million, making any deal costly. Arsenal have also expressed interest in Yilmaz, which could further inflate his asking price and complicate Roma's pursuit. Yilmaz represents a secondary target as Gasperini prioritises Mason Greenwood for Roma's attack. Greenwood remains the head coach's preferred choice to elevate the team's attacking quality, though his €55 million valuation (including bonuses) presents a significant financial hurdle. Roma are expected to work on bridging the gap in coming weeks while simultaneously exploring alternatives. The club recognises the need to strengthen their attacking options with at least one additional quality winger beyond their existing targets. Yilmaz is regarded as an important, high-quality player with consistent goal-scoring and creative output. Over the past three seasons, he has registered 34 assists alongside his goal tally, establishing himself as a national team regular and crowd favourite at Galatasaray. Details remain unclear on whether Roma will accelerate their interest or maintain focus on Greenwood negotiations.

Roma legend Roberto Pruzzo and commentator Torri have weighed in on the club's current situation. Pruzzo called on sporting director D'Amico to identify the next standout talent, comparing the need to the arrival of Donyell Malen. Torri suggested the coming week could prove decisive for contract renewal negotiations at the Giallorossi. The comments reflect ongoing discussions about Roma's transfer strategy and squad planning as the club balances recruitment with securing key players. Details of specific renewals or targets remain unclear.

Artem Dovbyk's standing at Roma has deteriorated significantly in his second season. Purchased for €35 million, the Ukrainian striker scored 17 goals in 45 appearances during his first year—a respectable return given tactical constraints under previous managers. This season, however, has been marked by decline: in 14 matches, he has managed only 3 goals. An injury sustained against Lecce late in the campaign sidelined him for much of the remainder. The emergence of Donyell Malen as the preferred forward has further reduced Dovbyk's role, while his failure to convert key chances—including a missed penalty against Lille—has drawn criticism. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has attempted to support Dovbyk despite him not fitting the manager's preferred attacking profile. However, those efforts have yielded no turnaround. Roma now faces a difficult position: the initial €35 million investment has lost roughly half its value in just over two years. Club leadership is exploring limited options—either a permanent sale or a loan deal to restore the player's confidence and goal-scoring form elsewhere. Turkish club Trabzonspor has reportedly tabled an offer of approximately €10 million, which Roma considers insufficient at present. Dovbyk's salary of roughly €3.5 million net annually complicates potential moves, as few clubs can afford such terms. Rome's preference is to limit losses while enabling the player to rediscover form away from the Stadio Olimpico, with hopes of reassessing his future value afterward.

Maurizio Setti, former Verona president, has praised Tony D'Amico—recently appointed to Roma's sporting structure alongside head coach Gian Piero Gasperini—as a capable director with strong player-selection instincts and two decades of football experience. Setti highlighted D'Amico's understated approach and his ability to work harmoniously between ownership and the pitch, noting that D'Amico performed this role effectively at Atalanta, where he acted as a filter between the club's management and technical operations. Setti cautioned that Roma faces a unique challenge in Italian football, stating: "The only spectre he will have to be careful about is Romanità; it is extremely difficult to do football in Rome because there are positive or negative influences." He suggested the club's primary weakness is not strategic incompetence but rather a lack of people driven by genuine passion for results. "Roma is missing not presidents like me, but people who wake up in the morning and would kill to achieve results," Setti said. He also noted that Roma has historically suffered from too many decision-makers without a single daily commander on the pitch to enforce the ownership's vision. Regarding next season, Setti believes Roma could become a serious title contender if the transfer market is handled well, particularly in attack—an area Gasperini will reportedly prioritize. He expressed confidence in D'Amico's recruitment abilities, citing his success bringing players like Donyell Malen to the club.

Wesley has suffered an adductor muscle injury and will miss international duty. Roma are exploring transfer options, with Paixao under consideration as a potential target. Paulo Dybala's contract renewal negotiations are reportedly in their final stages, with details remaining unclear on the exact timeline and terms. The injury to Wesley represents a blow to the squad's attacking depth during the international break.

Paulo Dybala's contract renewal with AS Roma is in its final stages, with negotiations described as substantially concluded and only formal details remaining before an official announcement. The Argentine forward has expressed his desire to continue at Roma, and the club shares his commitment to building the team around his talent. Both parties see Roma's recent qualification for the Champions League as an additional incentive to proceed together. Gasperini, the newly appointed head coach, is reportedly eager to begin work with certainty that Dybala will be available from the start of pre-season. Dybala is prepared to extend his stay for two additional seasons, a move viewed as significant for the club's present and future ambitions. The player aims to replicate his previous impact—delivering crucial assists and performances that helped restore Roma to European football's elite competition. According to reports from Matteo Moretto, the atmosphere surrounding negotiations remains positive with no obstacles on the horizon. Fans and the coaching staff await only the formal announcement to complete the process. The renewal represents continuity in Roma's midfield leadership at a pivotal moment for the club as it prepares for its Champions League campaign.

Jeremías Lazaro, a 2004-born midfielder at Argentine club Instituto Córdoba, revealed that Paulo Dybala contacted him via video call through a mutual connection to offer representation services. Lazaro declined the offer, as he had already signed with another agent, but praised Dybala for providing advice during a period when he was playing little. Lazaro said of their conversation: "With him I had a chat, we spoke on Instagram, I made a video call with him because, well, he wanted to be my representative. But I had already signed with my current agent. Obviously we remained on excellent terms, there's a desire to meet at some point, which will surely happen. But I'm really happy because he's a fantastic person. He gave me a lot of advice and, honestly, talking to him reassured me." Dybala founded a Milan-based consulting firm called La Favorita srl over two years ago, which manages athlete image rights, endorsements, and intellectual property across multiple platforms including artificial intelligence and blockchain-based assets like NFTs. The venture reflects Dybala's broader business interests beyond his playing career at Roma, similar to how Francesco Totti established his own management company. The arrangement shows Dybala is actively building a portfolio in sports representation and consulting, positioning himself for post-playing opportunities in football management and athlete advocacy.

Roma defenders Gianluca Mancini and Lorenzo Pellegrini have been spotted vacationing together in Ibiza following the conclusion of the season. The pair are taking time to relax after a long campaign that culminated in Roma securing qualification for the Champions League. The break comes as several Roma players enjoy downtime before preparations begin for the new season ahead.

Tony D'Amico is in Bergamo negotiating the termination of his contract with Atalanta, bringing his move to Roma as sporting director closer. The agreement between D'Amico and the Giallorossi has been delayed by outstanding financial matters with the Nerazzurri, who removed him from his position roughly a week ago and appointed Cristiano Giuntoli as his replacement. Once the resolution is finalized, D'Amico will officially join head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at Trigoria. D'Amico's immediate priorities at Roma include negotiating contract renewals for Çelik, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Paulo Dybala. The club must also address Financial Fair Play compliance and capital gains requirements by 30 June, though the deadline could potentially be extended to 30 June 2027 through agreement with UEFA, allowing Roma to defer certain accounting obligations. This flexibility could help the club avoid selling key squad members during the current transfer window and instead register incoming revenue from Champions League participation in the next financial year. Gasperini's preferred target for recruitment is Mason Greenwood, though additional signings are expected beyond that single acquisition. The incoming sporting director will oversee all these matters alongside the club's broader transfer strategy.

Roma's announcement of Tony D'Amico as a new staff member continues to be delayed, though an official statement is expected soon. D'Amico remains in Bergamo finalizing the last details with Atalanta. Roma will not be required to pay any release clause to secure the executive, and optimism surrounds the move. Once the official announcement arrives, Roma will request a regulatory waiver to allow D'Amico to begin work immediately, given the workload ahead. D'Amico's first priority will be contract renewals for Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini, and Çelik. The club also aims to complete player departures before the 30 June deadline. Ziolkowski may leave the club, while reports of Inter pursuing Gianluca Mancini have been dismissed. Mancini is keen to remain at Roma and is close to signing a contract extension through 2029. Details remain unclear on the exact timeline for the announcement, though Roma's expectation is that it will arrive within the coming days.