Roma face growing competition in race for Alajbegovic as Leverkusen raises asking price

Manu Koné, Roma's midfielder, addressed his immediate future while on France national team duty ahead of the nation's World Cup 2026 opener against Senegal on Tuesday. When asked about reported interest from Inter, Koné stated: "Sincerely at this moment I think only about the World Cup. It's my first big international competition, a tournament I've always dreamed of playing in. I want to stay focused exclusively on this. We'll talk about the future after the World Cup and we'll see what happens." Koné's final months at Roma were disrupted by two hamstring injuries that affected his season. Despite these setbacks, he expressed confidence in his recovery and his ability to contribute for France. He emphasized his readiness to serve the team when called upon, noting that he featured regularly during qualifying. The midfielder reflected on his journey with pride, recalling watching France's 2022 final campaign from Germany while playing for Borussia Mönchengladbach at that time. Regarding the Senegal match, Koné stressed France's preparation and intentions: "We've prepared well. We've played two friendlies that will be useful to us in the future. We're adapting to the heat and I hope we'll be ready against Senegal to start well in the competition. It's the first match and we must win it to get off on the right foot."

Paulo Dybala has not yet committed to a contract extension with Roma, though negotiations remain active. Speaking on his future, Dybala stated: "I have not yet decided, anything can happen." Despite his non-committal comments, the renewal talks are progressing, with Ryan Friedkin maintaining contact with the player's agent Novel and the two sides described as having moved considerably closer to agreement. Head coach Gasperini has prioritized securing Dybala's future alongside Lorenzo Pellegrini and at least two additional attacking reinforcements for the upcoming season. Roma are also working to complete other deals before the June 30 deadline. Matías Soulé is the primary candidate for departure, having attracted interest from Borussia Dortmund, Fenerbahçe, and Saudi Arabian clubs following his 30 million euro investment. Striker Artem Dovbyk is also facing a potential exit, with Villarreal, Real Betis, and a German club monitoring his situation. Additionally, Angeliño has been targeted by La Liga side Deportivo La Coruña for a return to Spain. Gasperini continues to pursue Mason Greenwood as a priority target, with ongoing discussions with the English winger. The club aims to finalize these matters swiftly to shape the squad for the new campaign.

Roma continues to work on offensive wingers identified by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, but the club faces financial constraints in the transfer market. A player reportedly named Summerville has made wage demands of €6 million per season, which appears to have complicated Roma's pursuit. The exact identity and background of the player involved remain unclear from the available information. Roma's recruitment strategy focuses on attacking options as Gasperini shapes his squad, though negotiations for key targets are proving challenging.