Freuler uncertain over Serie A future as Roma weigh Swiss midfielder

Artem Dovbyk is preparing to leave Roma after two seasons, with Ajax now among the clubs interested in signing the 29-year-old Ukrainian forward. Roma paid €30.5 million plus €5.5 million in bonuses to acquire him in 2024 after he won La Liga's Golden Boot at Girona in 2023–24, but he has failed to adapt to Serie A. Last season he made just 14 league appearances and scored three goals, falling out of favour with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. With Donyell Malen now signed permanently and Roma pursuing high-profile targets including Diego Moreira and Alejandro Garnacho, the club must raise funds through player sales. Roma have set Dovbyk's asking price at €23 million and appear reluctant to negotiate. Ajax could provide him with regular first-team football, though whether they will meet the valuation is uncertain. Meanwhile, Daniele De Rossi is reportedly keen to bring Dovbyk to Genoa, though that move would likely require Roma to lower their demands significantly.

Roma are pursuing dual transfers for Alejandro Garnacho and Moreira, both players linked to the BlueCo ownership structure. Chelsea are demanding 50 million euros for Garnacho, while Strasbourg are asking the same fee for Moreira. The two transfers are complicated individually, but Roma believe a shared ownership angle could unlock both deals. Garnacho is a Chelsea academy product available for transfer, while Moreira is an external addition to Strasbourg, which operates as a development club within the BlueCo consortium led by Todd Boehly. Roma's strategy centres on the multi-ownership factor: since both Chelsea and Strasbourg belong to the same American-led group, the club believe they could negotiate a single package deal rather than two separate transactions. This approach could allow all parties to reach a compromise on fees and structure. The giallorossi are considering a comprehensive agreement that would make both moves more sustainable financially while giving BlueCo flexibility across its portfolio.

Mario Balotelli has named AS Roma among the contenders for next season's Serie A title, alongside Napoli and Inter. Speaking to Sportmediaset, the former Milan striker said: "Napoli and Inter are the favourites, but I want to add a surprise: Roma will also fight for the Scudetto." Balotelli, now based in Saudi Arabia, predicted that Gian Piero Gasperini's side will be in the mix for the championship despite not being among the usual elite. Roma have not yet completed any significant transfer business ahead of their squad gathering tomorrow. The pursuit of Greenwood has fallen away, while the club continues to work on signing a backup to Malen, with Tresoldi identified as a target, and also Garnacho. The Giallorossi are preparing to restart their season following a challenging campaign. Balotelli's endorsement represents external confidence in Roma's prospects, though the club's transfer activity will be crucial to whether they can genuinely mount a title challenge.