Endrick wants more playing time as Roma push for a move from Real Madrid

Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear that Roma need targeted signings in the next transfer window to keep pace in the title race, but the club's ownership has yet to give any explicit signal on backing him. The head coach wants at least one attacking winger and one midfielder to push for the top of the table in the second half of the season. Roma's ambition to fight for the title sits uneasily with the need to plan the January market well in advance. The squad has gaps in certain areas, namely wide players and midfield, and the January window is complex and does not allow for delays. Gasperini believes firmly in the team's potential but feels the need for timely support from the board. How much room the club has will depend on its financial dynamics and the limits imposed by Financial Fair Play rules. The case of Donyell Malen, whose move was blocked in January and later fell through after the change of coach to Emery, shows how difficult it is to add new players without shared and structured planning. Direct contact between Gasperini and Dan Friedkin has been limited so far. Day-to-day dealings have run mainly through CEO John Souloukou and sporting director Tony D'Amico. Roma have not stood still, having opened talks over several profiles, including Logkey, Leweling and Luiz Betabçur. However, the lack of formal guarantees on budgets risks causing friction. Gasperini has been clear that the club needs at least one attacking winger and one midfielder to aim high. The line has been drawn, and the owners' response in the coming weeks will be decisive in showing Roma's real ambitions for the second half of the season.

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico is already working on January moves, with the winter window opening early on 28 December and the aim of adding two attacking players. The club's priority is to strengthen the attack while keeping to the owners' sustainable line, with wage demands not exceeding 4 million euros a season, and while monitoring a UEFA ruling expected between late November and early December. The top name on the list remains Endrick, who has been pursued for months and returned to the spotlight after comments at the Brazil national team camp, where the forward stressed his need for more playing time. He has played only 141 minutes so far across La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, including a goal and an assist against Roma. Talks between officials ahead of the European fixture reportedly included Roberto Carlos for the Madrid side, and the player is keen to leave, although José Mourinho prefers to keep him. Milan, who are in the Premier League in the article's wording, and Sporting CP, coached by former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, are also reportedly moving for the 2006-born striker. Beyond the Brazilian, Trigoria's list includes several wide attacking options and left-sided players. Jamie Gittens of Chelsea is among them; he was a summer target who slipped away in the final hours of the window and is currently out of Xabi Alonso's plans. Other names include van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven and Leweling, whose move to Roma was reportedly close before repeated second thoughts. For the left flank, Balde of Barcelona has been offered, although that lead is currently frozen. In Germany, Stuttgart would reportedly demand no less than 30 million for Kvernadze, a player being tracked but not seen as a January priority. Gasperini expects two signings up front and is willing to give up a backup for Wesley in the summer by blocking the sale of Rensch, who remains as the fourth winger in the squad. Training resumes at Trigoria this afternoon, with Paulo Dybala among those most eagerly awaited as he shakes off a knock and aims for the trip to Parma. Mile Svilar has a medical check to have the protective boot removed from his right foot after a fifth-finger injury that forced him to miss the last match and a national team call-up. His availability for Parma remains in doubt, with a definitive verdict due in the coming days. Ticket sales for the Tardini trip are temporarily suspended pending decisions from the authorities.

No transfer meeting has yet taken place between the ownership, sporting director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gasperini, and there is only a whisper that next week could be the right moment, with no confirmation. Il Corriere della Sera's Davide Stoppini reports that Gasperini has had no direct contact with Dan Friedkin since last April, during the chaos surrounding Ranieri, not even an exchange after the Champions League qualification. Contact with Ryan Friedkin since May has changed little. Corbin Friedkin, the youngest brother, was recently seen at the Olimpico for the match against Real Madrid. In late July the club appointed CEO John Galantic, who in practice acts as a filter but does not have wide operational authority. For all deals above 2 million euros, which is practically all of them, he needs the approval of the Friedkins. The article describes this as a paradox: the club has moved further away from Gasperini than last year, when a degree of relationship between the coach and Ryan Friedkin had formed, as seen last January. Doubts may understandably arise among those involved, and nobody knows exactly how to proceed. Roma's transfer department has not stood still and has opened talks on several fronts, but these are exploratory contacts. Logic suggests that if the ownership gave the go-ahead at the end of August for an investment, Leweling or Luiz Henrique, it will make the same decision for January. However, these remain assumptions, and even inside Trigoria only hypotheses are being discussed. January is not a straightforward month.

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico is already working on January moves, with the winter window opening early on 28 December and the aim of adding two attacking players. The club's priority is to strengthen the attack while keeping to the owners' sustainable line, with wage demands not exceeding 4 million euros a season, and while monitoring a UEFA ruling expected between late November and early December. The top name on the list remains Endrick, who has been pursued for months and returned to the spotlight after comments at the Brazil national team camp, where the forward stressed his need for more playing time. He has played only 141 minutes so far across La Liga and the Champions League with Real Madrid, including a goal and an assist against Roma. Talks between officials ahead of the European fixture reportedly included Roberto Carlos for the Madrid side, and the player is keen to leave, although José Mourinho prefers to keep him. Milan, who are in the Premier League in the article's wording, and Sporting CP, coached by former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, are also reportedly moving for the 2006-born striker. Beyond the Brazilian, Trigoria's list includes several wide attacking options and left-sided players. Jamie Gittens of Chelsea is among them; he was a summer target who slipped away in the final hours of the window and is currently out of Xabi Alonso's plans. Other names include van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven and Leweling, whose move to Roma was reportedly close before repeated second thoughts. For the left flank, Balde of Barcelona has been offered, although that lead is currently frozen. In Germany, Stuttgart would reportedly demand no less than 30 million for Kvernadze, a player being tracked but not seen as a January priority. Gasperini expects two signings up front and is willing to give up a backup for Wesley in the summer by blocking the sale of Rensch, who remains as the fourth winger in the squad. Training resumes at Trigoria this afternoon, with Paulo Dybala among those most eagerly awaited as he shakes off a knock and aims for the trip to Parma. Mile Svilar has a medical check to have the protective boot removed from his right foot after a fifth-finger injury that forced him to miss the last match and a national team call-up. His availability for Parma remains in doubt, with a definitive verdict due in the coming days. Ticket sales for the Tardini trip are temporarily suspended pending decisions from the authorities.

Mario Hermoso is close to signing a new contract at Roma, with talks having begun last month and a two-year deal reportedly ready. The Spaniard has become one of Gasperini's trusted players after a difficult start to his time in the Italian capital, and his goal in Saturday's 3-0 win over Sassuolo was the latest confirmation of his value, according to Tuttosport's Stefano Gentili. Hermoso's current contract runs until 30 June 2027, after the club exercised its option to extend it last May. The club is now working to go beyond that date. Contract renewals for young players Lulli and De Marzi have already been settled, and the board is now focusing on the Spaniard. The new deal is being discussed as one or two years, with an option for a further season. The salary is expected to be lower than his current one, and both parties are keen to continue together. Signing has yet to take place. Hermoso has played 1,049 minutes so far this season across Serie A and the Champions League, with only Wesley having been used more by Roma. Gasperini, the coach from Grugliasco, has won him over on both a human and footballing level. Hermoso is reported to be fit both physically and mentally, and has rediscovered the feeling of being indispensable in the Italian capital.

Endrick has reportedly said no to AC Milan, opening the way for Roma to pursue the Real Madrid forward in the January window, according to Corriere dello Sport, which leads its front page with the story today. The Brazilian, who has been increasingly keen to find playing time away from Spain, has reportedly turned down the Rossoneri, while Tony D'Amico continues working to bring him to Gian Piero Gasperini's side. Securing the 20-year-old has become one of Roma's main targets for the winter window. Spanish daily AS reports that Endrick has become convinced he needs to leave Real Madrid temporarily to protect his development. He has played just 140 minutes in seven appearances this season, with only one start. Real Madrid's youngster is seeking regular football and continuity, a situation that mirrors last season, when a loan to Olympique Lyon brought him minutes, confidence and goals. Roma had already come close to signing him during the summer, reaching an agreement in principle with Real Madrid, before José Mourinho personally intervened to persuade Endrick to stay. That decision has not yet brought the playing time the Brazilian hoped for. Speaking yesterday from the national team camp, Endrick sent a telling message: "Voglio solo giocare, essere felice e aiutare i miei compagni di squadra. Non so cosa accadrà a gennaio, è nelle mani di Dio. Chiedo solo ciò che è meglio per la mia carriera." In English: "I just want to play, be happy and help my teammates. I don't know what will happen in January, it is in God's hands. I only ask for what is best for my career." His words carry even more weight in light of the reports from Spain. His relationship with Mourinho remains excellent, and he has repeated his gratitude to the Portuguese coach, who continues to show him great attention on a personal level. AS claims Real Madrid would be willing to consider a departure, provided they retain control over the player's future. The ideal solution for Roma remains a loan with an option to buy, a formula Corriere dello Sport also highlights on today's front page. Such a deal would let D'Amico give Gasperini a high-quality reinforcement without an immediately heavy financial outlay, given the club's economic constraints. According to AS, Real Madrid would also consider a sale with clauses allowing them to keep control over the player's future. Corriere dello Sport adds that Endrick rejected the Milan move, while D'Amico keeps working to bring him to Trigoria. Roma can also count on Wesley, who knows Endrick well and reportedly awaits him in the capital. AS also names Sporting Lisbon as a club that has reportedly already moved for Endrick, possibly through coach Paulo Fonseca, who coached the Brazilian at Lyon and reportedly asked for him to be brought to Lisbon. Portuguese papers A Bola and Record, however, say Endrick is not part of Sporting's plans, contradicting AS. Gasperini sees Endrick as a profile of great interest, capable of adding pace, unpredictability and quality to the attack. He is not a pure left winger but can offer different solutions across the front line, qualities the coach particularly values. Corriere dello Sport also stresses the forward's importance to Roma's plans and the need for a new attacking reinforcement in January. No agreements exist yet for January, and Roma continue to regard the Brazilian as one of their main targets to complete the attack.