Ferguson poised to join Genoa on loan as De Rossi seeks attacking reinforcement

Roma continue work to complete the arrival of Rodrigo Mora as soon as possible, with negotiations advancing significantly. The club's players are resting ahead of their return to Trigoria for pre-season training. Goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini awaits developments in what supporters are describing as a period of anticipation for the club. Vincent Candela, speaking on Radio Romanista, reflected on his relationship with Franco Sensi and discussed the squad available to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as Roma prepare for the new season.

Roma have reached a contract agreement with Lyon winger Malick Fofana after several days of negotiation, with sporting director D'Amico pushing the deal forward. However, the transfer will not progress until Roma complete their acquisition of Rodrigo Mora from Porto, which still awaits final approval from all parties involved. Lyon are seeking approximately €35 million for Fofana, a figure Roma understand, but D'Amico has made the Mora signing a prerequisite before moving ahead on the Belgian winger. D'Amico is juggling both transfer tracks simultaneously, aiming to deliver both attacking reinforcements to head coach Gasperini as soon as possible. The timing is significant: Roma's Serie A campaign opens against Fiorentina in exactly one week.

Roma have made concrete progress on multiple fronts in their pursuit of new players. The club have agreed terms with Porto for Rodrigo Mora on a deal worth €25 million plus 50% of any future sale, with Roma holding the option to cancel that sell-on clause by paying Porto the remaining 50% next year. Porto's final approval is awaited to allow Mora to complete his move to the capital. In parallel, Roma have opened negotiations with Lyon over winger Malick Fofana, who has signalled his willingness to join the club in yellow and red. Lyon have provided Roma with all the operational details of a potential transfer, though the French side are pushing to keep Fofana for their Champions League commitments. Notably, Fofana's agents represent Luis Henrique, another player Roma have monitored in recent weeks. The decision on whether to pursue the Belgian talent now rests with Roma, though the club harbour an ambitious goal: to bring both Mora and Fofana to Rome and then add a further winger to complete the attacking department. With a week remaining until Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and Niccolò Pisilli, both sidelined following a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August. Wesley continues to experience ankle trouble and will be assessed on the resumption of training at Trigoria, as will Pisilli. Confidence is filtering through that both will be available for the first match of the season.

Roma take on Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly at 17:30 today, but the clash is overshadowed by an injury crisis that has left Gian Piero Gasperini with just 23 players available — only 16 outfield players and three goalkeepers. Wesley suffered a right ankle sprain yesterday, joining Niccolò Pisilli (soleus injury) and Lorenzo Pellegrini (returning to group training in mid-September) on the sidelines. The Brazilian's injury mirrors problems sustained during the Welsh training camp. With 15 days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma's squad position has deteriorated markedly. Eight players have departed — Dovbyk, Ferguson, Angeliño, Tsimikas, Celik, Zaragoza, Venturino and El Shaarawy — while only three signings have arrived: Molina, Castro and Koulierakis. Gasperini highlighted the shortage with a pointed response on competitiveness versus last season: "According to you?", underlining particular weaknesses on the flanks, in attack and midfield, where only three players are currently available. The Dortmund match will provide minutes for Molina while also testing Roma's defensive resilience; the rearguard conceded 11 goals across four pre-season matches against Cannes, Brighton, Cardiff and Newport without a clean sheet.

Genoa have initiated contact with Brighton to explore the possibility of signing Evan Ferguson, the Irish striker who spent last season on loan at Roma. De Rossi, Genoa's manager, is targeting Ferguson as he searches for attacking reinforcements. Ferguson endured a difficult campaign under Gasperini at Roma, scoring few goals and delivering inconsistent performances before an injury cut short his spell. Roma chose not to activate the purchase option in his loan agreement, and Ferguson returned to Brighton. He is currently sidelined with injury and undergoing recovery work away from first-team training. Ferguson's Roma chapter lasted just one season, but his name has re-entered the Italian transfer market only months after his departure from the Stadio Olimpico. Torino are also monitoring the situation and have registered interest in the 21-year-old. A move to Serie A would offer Ferguson a second chance in Italy under different circumstances after his underwhelming debut campaign. The Brighton loanee will be hoping to resurrect his reputation away from Rome, though his current injury status may complicate any imminent switch.

Roma's pre-season tour of England closed with a 3–0 defeat to Brighton at the Amex Stadium on 8 August. Georginio Rutter opened the scoring in the 29th minute after Wesley squandered a one-on-one chance against Verbruggen in the 28th, with Yasin Ayari doubling the lead before half-time and completing his brace early in the second half at the 49th minute. The result capped a disappointing week for Gasperini's side, following a heavy loss to Cardiff City, with only an improved performance against Newport offering respite. Wesley's missed opportunity proved decisive; from the resulting counter-attack, Rutter fired past Svilar, and the concession of the opening goal triggered a psychological collapse that Brighton exploited ruthlessly through their pace and directness. Gasperini's Roma controlled stretches of the match and came closest to opening the scoring when Wesley was played through one-on-one in the 28th minute but shot over from a favourable position. The side's lack of clinical finishing and defensive frailty were stark: Brighton's attacks repeatedly found space, particularly down the flanks, and Roma's back line appeared disorganised and slow to react. Svilar made several key saves to prevent a larger scoreline. The heavy rotation Gasperini introduced in the second half, giving opportunities to younger squad members, failed to ignite a response from a team that appeared depleted and lacking intensity. Evan Ferguson, still recovering from injury, was present at the stadium to greet his former teammates before kick-off. Roma's next fixture is a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August, a match Gasperini will view as essential for rebuilding confidence and addressing the defensive and mental issues laid bare at the Amex.