Dortmund pressing Roma for Soulé as Gasperini pursues Greenwood deal

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.

AS Roma earned over 1 million dollars from FIFA's Club Benefits Programme during the 2026 World Cup, ranking sixth among Serie A sides in total club payments. The FIFA scheme, run jointly with the European Football Clubs association, distributed 355 million dollars (300 million euros) to compensate clubs for releasing players to international duty. Each club received a minimum of approximately 5,000 dollars per day (4,300 euros) for every player loaned to their national federation. Roma fielded five players across the tournament held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico: Evan N'Dicka, Zeki Çelik, Neil El Aynaoui, Manu Koné, and Donyell Malen. These five accumulated 211 days of competition, generating 1.055 million dollars for the club. Milan topped Serie A's earnings with over 2.3 million dollars from ten players, followed by Atalanta (1.6 million from eight players) and Inter (1.55 million from seven). Juventus collected 1.2 million and Bologna 1 million. Among individual Roma players, Koné was the most valuable, earning 280,000 dollars for the club—second only to Lautaro Martinez of Inter and Nico Paz of Como, who each generated 285,000 dollars.

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.

Gianluca Mancini is on the verge of signing a contract extension that will bind him to Roma until 2029, with only official confirmation outstanding. The defender has already signalled his intention to stay by posting a message on social media featuring himself, the Curva Sud, and nothing else—a deliberate statement of his bond with the club's supporters who have made him one of their symbols. Mancini is preparing for his eighth season in a Roma shirt, a campaign he views as special given the club's return to the Champions League. He intends to play a leading role in that European run, anchoring the defence alongside Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The renewal underscores his desire to remain at the Stadio Olimpico despite interest from other suitors, cementing a relationship that has grown far beyond the pitch.

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.

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.

Roma are preparing contingency plans to replace Manu Koné should he leave the club, with Manchester United leading the chase for the midfielder. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has confirmed the club will likely have to sell a key player due to financial constraints, with the deadline for such sales now set for July 31st. Roma value Koné at €55–60 million, a substantial markup from his €12 million book value, and expect significant interest alongside Chelsea and Manchester United, who are also tracking Eduardo Camavinga and Alex Scott. The Giallorossi would prefer to offload Matías Soulé instead, but he rejected a move to Saudi Arabia and offers have been insufficient. Juventus's pursuit of Zeki Çelik, valued at €40 million, has also forced Roma's hand. To bolster their midfield options, the club are monitoring Frank Kessié and Khephren Thuram from Chelsea, as well as Celtic's Arne Engels (€20–25 million) and Botafogo's Danilo Santos (€30–35 million), a former member of Brazil's World Cup squad. Gasperini has shifted his stance on retaining the entire squad, though wage constraints remain a significant obstacle to some acquisitions. Roma prioritize a defensively robust midfielder to complement their existing options.

Roma defeated the Primavera side 6–0 in an internal friendly at Trigoria under the watchful eye of director Tony D'Amico, with Paulo Dybala orchestrating the performance. The match was played in four slots under Gasperini's new-look system. Roma struggled initially in the opening 20 minutes, with Artem Dovbyk spurning a clear chance in front of goal. Once Gasperini reshuffled the lineup around the quarter-hour mark, Dybala took control. Matías Soulé opened the scoring by heading in a Dybala cross, before Soulé himself added a second from a Dybala assist at the 44-minute mark. In the second half, Dybala converted a penalty won by Cherubini and added a fifth with a left-footed half-volley from Soulé's assist, demonstrating the twin's telepathic understanding. Bryan Cristante also scored from a distance, with Dovbyk adding the sixth late on. Angeliño featured for just one half, while Wesley played on the right flank in place of the injured Çelik. Hermoso led the defensive line with authority and precision. Gasperini granted the squad a day's rest following the exercise, with training resuming tomorrow at 18:00.