El Shaarawy set to reject Venezia, targets Genoa return under De Rossi

Gian Piero Gasperini has taken direct control of Roma's transfer strategy and market operations, signalling the club is targeting a title challenge rather than mere consolidation. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the head coach made clear his expectations: addressing Çelik's status with a pointed "thank you for your contribution, but we can find better", urging a renewal for Pellegrini, and criticising Soulé's condition after a month and a half away from competitive football, with the winger set to depart. Gasperini's dialogue with the club operates without intermediaries this time, a marked shift from last season's mediation structure. His partnership with director of sport D'Amico is described as total and unified. Roma's transfer activity—including the ongoing Nusa-Summerville pursuit—reflects the head coach's stated aim to transform the club's competitive scope. Speaking to the board, Gasperini employed both encouragement and pressure: "We are slow, we could move faster, but once the engine is in motion, it runs well." The implication is clear: if Roma's pending market moves materialise, the club must recalibrate its ambitions upwards.

Roma are working simultaneously on two alternative attacking targets for the left flank and could make a final decision imminently. Gasperini and the sporting director D'Amico are actively pursuing both Nusa and Summerville, with the Norwegian reportedly the profile that better fits the coach's overall vision and long-term ideas. For Nusa, discussions with both his club and representatives have progressed and a decisive move to resolve final details could arrive today. For West Ham's Summerville, the financial gap has narrowed on both player and club sides. Roma will not exceed the salary ceiling it has set for wages—nothing that surpasses what the squad that brought Roma back to European ambition earns—with a possible agreement on 4 or 4.5 million euros annually and approximately 45 million to the London club to reach the level of the player's release clause, which can be activated by midnight today. Talks continue but Roma have not yet entered a decisive phase, though time is pressing given Summerville's admirers in the Premier League. Summerville has a friend at Roma in Donyell Malen. Meanwhile, Chelsea talks over Garnacho have been put on hold; Roma want a loan deal while the Blues prefer a permanent transfer or early monetisation guarantee. Separately, Koné and Soulé remain possible sale candidates to balance the financial fair play requirements, though no formal offers have yet arrived at the training ground.

Roma have made contact with West Ham over Dutch winger Summerville, with head coach Gasperini personally calling the player to persuade him to move to the Stadio Olimpico. Summerville has shown willingness to join the capital club, but West Ham rejected Roma's initial offer of €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses. The London club is holding out for €50 million, forcing Roma to increase their proposal. The Friedkin Group must now decide whether to raise their bid to meet West Ham's valuation. Roma face competition from Aston Villa, who received £117 million from Chelsea for the sale of Rogers. Gasperini's direct involvement in the pursuit underscores the importance Roma place on landing Summerville, though the decision on whether to match West Ham's asking price ultimately rests with the club's ownership.

Roma's squad reported to Trigoria by 12 noon on Monday to begin their first week of training under Gian Piero Gasperini, who enters his second season in charge following the club's return to the Champions League. The first session, preceded by routine medical checks, was scheduled for the afternoon after lunch. The squad welcomed back no new faces, with departures including El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Zaragoza and Tsimikas, and the club opted not to publish the squad list publicly. The decision to withhold squad details reflects uncertainty over Paulo Dybala's contract situation. Roma's hierarchy worked to complete all formalities of Dybala's contract renewal by Monday morning, with the financial terms already agreed for several days. Çelik will be the first player to return following his involvement in international competition, though his own renewal announcement has not yet been confirmed. The full or near-full squad is expected only when the team convenes for a training camp in Wales. Gasperini is awaiting reinforcements from the club's sporting director D'Amico, who has drawn up a target list prioritising Moreira, while Garnacho and Tresoldi remain under consideration for the attack and centre-back positions respectively.

Gian Piero Gasperini begins Roma's summer preparation at Trigoria, exactly fifty days after his appointment was celebrated at Verona. The coach will oversee a squad that has undergone subtle but significant changes since the end of the previous season. Stephan El Shaarawy has departed, while several players remain away on World Cup duty. Critically, Zeki Çelik and Lorenzo Pellegrini have yet to sign contract renewals, though both are expected to remain at the club—Çelik is still on holiday following Turkey's World Cup campaign, while Pellegrini must rebuild his fitness. Paulo Dybala is confirmed in the squad barring unforeseen developments. The transfer market remains frozen for now, but sporting director D'Amico will shift focus to incoming moves once renewals are secured. Gasperini's priority list is established. Mason Greenwood, the primary target, has slipped away, but the new sporting director is pursuing alternative options considered equally significant. Alejandro Garnacho and a player identified as Moreira are under active consideration. For Garnacho, Roma have requested a loan with an option to buy from Chelsea, though London has not yet opened discussions. Strasbourg are demanding 40 million for the Belgian, a considerably more demanding asking price that complicates any potential deal.

Roma began their pre-season on Tuesday, exactly fifty days after their victory in Verona, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini arriving at Trigoria. Only fourteen outfield players reported initially, with several absentees due to extended World Cup breaks or departures. Stephan El Shaarawy, Kostas Tsimikas, Evan Ferguson, Bryan Zaragoza, Zeki Çelik, Evan N'Dicka, Donyell Malen, Salah-Eddine, and Neil El Aynaoui were unavailable, while Manu Koné remained absent. Players were required to arrive at the training ground by noon for medical checks before their first session in the afternoon. Paulo Dybala is set to sign a one-year contract extension to begin his fifth season at Roma, with the announcement expected on Tuesday. Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract situation remains unresolved, with further discussions scheduled in the coming days. Wesley has recovered fully from an adductor muscle injury sustained before the World Cup. Daniele De Rossi's successor Gasperini arrived Monday morning and will oversee an intensive two-week training block at Trigoria before the squad relocates to Wales for the second phase of pre-season, departing 30 July and returning 18 August following a fixture against Brighton. Several players with uncertain futures, including Artem Dovbyk and Robinio Vaz, will use the coming weeks to impress Gasperini. Donyell Malen is expected to rejoin the squad around 22 July. Sporting director Tony D'Amico, representing the Friedkin Group ownership, attended to welcome the squad.