Gasperini targets another Malen-type forward after Champions League push

Roma have not filled the left-wing attacking position during the summer transfer window despite head coach Gian Piero Gasperini requesting the move since his arrival. The club is now focusing on younger targets for January or later, with Giorgi Kvernadze, the 23-year-old Georgian winger at Frosinone, emerging as a leading prospect. Kvernadze has delivered an outstanding start to the season with three goals and one assist in five matches. A natural left winger who shoots right-footed, the class of 2003 player can operate across the attacking line and could follow the same path as Matías Soulé, who moved from Frosinone to Roma. However, Napoli and Fiorentina are also tracking him. Director D'Amico has placed Kvernadze on a list of prospects representing a youth-focused approach, with comparisons being drawn to fellow Georgian Kvaratskhelia. The search for an attacking left winger has stretched across three transfer windows without success. Kvernadze could potentially repeat Soulé's trajectory from the Frosinone academy to the capital. Alongside Kvernadze, Roma are monitoring Darryl Bakola, an 18-year-old French midfielder at Sassuolo. The club had targeted Bakola last year before Sassuolo signed him from Marseille in January for €10 million. A box-to-box midfielder with technical ability and strong attacking projection, Bakola is being viewed by Gasperini and D'Amico as a comparable prospect to Manu Koné or as a future version of Ederson in his Atalanta days. Juventus, led by Sassuolo's former director Carnevali, are also competing for Bakola's signature. Roma will continue contact with both clubs in the coming weeks.

Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impression at Roma following his move from Olympique Marseille this summer. Speaking from his national team camp, the defender praised his reception: "At Roma I was welcomed very well. The challenge with Lautaro? I already knew him, so I knew it would be very complicated. And indeed it was, but it was a good match." Bareldi has already won over head coach Gasperini, appearing as a starter in two matches and contributing further appearances off the bench. He finished the fixture against Inter cramping in his calf, prompting a precautionary approach to manage the injury. Though still working toward full match fitness, his appearances for his national team are expected to aid his physical development. The defender has two further opportunities to establish himself before Como, with no serious calf concerns reported.

Roma came close to signing Genoa defender Johan Vasquez over the summer but the transfer fell through after a change in the club's sporting director role. Ricky Massara, who was pushing the deal forward, left the club in June and was replaced by Tony D'Amico, who had worked extensively with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta. The shift in leadership altered Roma's transfer priorities entirely, with Massara's successor abandoning the pursuit of Vasquez and other targets the outgoing director had been tracking. Massara had been actively pursuing Vasquez, the Genoa captain and leader under former Roma manager Daniele De Rossi. Roma made concrete moves towards the Mexican defender and came closest to securing him among all interested clubs, despite competition from across Europe. However, Massara's exit and D'Amico's arrival ended all negotiations. The same sequence played out with other Massara targets: Kerim Alajbegovic, who subsequently joined him at Juventus, and Franck Kessie, whom Massara negotiated for on behalf of the Bianconeri. Vasquez ultimately remained at Genoa. Other clubs that had inquired about the defender included Eintracht Frankfurt, Besiktas, and Atlético Madrid, with interest also arriving from Germany, Turkey and Spain. The shift in Roma's hierarchy removed the club from consideration just as they had positioned themselves as the frontrunners for his signature.

Roma top Serie A after five matches with 13 points, drawing 2–2 against Inter at the Olimpico last Saturday, yet rank only fifth in squad value among Italian clubs according to Transfermarkt's latest assessment on 15 September. The gap between league position and market valuation reflects the squad's youth and short contract lengths, though Roma have shown significant growth: their squad value stands at approximately €498 million, up 27.9 per cent from €390 million on 15 September 2025. Manu Koné and Donyell Malen have emerged as standout performers this season. The French midfielder, who remained at Roma despite summer transfer speculation, has seen his market value rise by €10 million to €60 million, placing him fifth among Serie A players. Malen, the Dutch forward with six Serie A goals already, gained the same €10 million increase to reach €55 million and sits seventh. Both have impressed under Gasperini, who has won over supporters and observers alike. Ahead of Roma in the overall squad value rankings are Inter (over €738 million), Juventus (nearly €613 million), Como (€568 million) and Milan (approximately €503 million). Koné and Malen rank fifth and seventh in individual player values across the league; Lautaro Martínez leads at €85 million, followed by Nico Paz (€80 million) and Yildiz (€75 million), with Bastoni fourth at €65 million. Other Roma players have seen their valuations shift. Emanuele Lulli, a young squad member, has risen dramatically from €500,000 during his Primavera spell to €8 million. Defensively, Konstantinos Koulierakis, who made his debut last Saturday, dropped from €25 million to €20 million, while goalkeeper Vasquez fell by €700,000 to €800,000. The disparities in squad value reflect contract duration and player age—factors that significantly influence market assessments. De Roon and Dybala, for instance, each have only one year remaining on their current deals, a constraint that depresses their recorded valuations despite their on-field contributions.

Roma's opening five matches of the 2026-27 season have dominated discussion on Italian radio, with pundits divided between optimism about the squad's quality and caution about expectations. Nando Orsi declared that Roma were constructed to win the Scudetto, saying: "This year it was built to win the Scudetto, but nobody says it out of fear and superstition, yet in their hearts they know it can stand up to Inter. Roma is strong, it just needs to manage its forces a bit during the match: you can't start at full throttle and then fade." Orsi added: "Roma was built to win the Scudetto, and whoever says otherwise says it out of superstition." He highlighted the depth available, noting that Castro can replace Malen, De Roon can come in for Cristante, and Ndícka can take Balerdi's place, and argued that Saturday's match proved Roma and Inter are the strongest teams, with Juventus, Milan and Napoli appearing less ready. However, Piero Torri urged restraint, warning that media pressure was being applied strategically: "The media operation for a Scudetto-winning Roma has already begun; they want to load Roma with responsibility. I'm watching all this with some diffidence." He acknowledged Balerdi as "certainly an extra trump card for Roma" but resisted linking his arrival to title ambitions. Roberto Pruzzo offered a measured assessment of the defence, describing Balerdi as "an old-school centre-back from the 70s, very practical, very reactive, and he doesn't take risks" — an "excellent impact" and "a value added to a defensive squad that is numerically sound." Pruzzo cautioned that Scudetto distances remain tight and that the picture will become clearer after 8–10 matches and some direct clashes. Fabio Petruzzi gave Roma maximum marks, saying: "I see perfection in this squad. If Malen hadn't taken Martinez in the face, you would have won the match; unfortunately that episode changed the game. Roma has done so much, the maximum — doing more seems difficult." Francesca Ferrazza noted that Dybala had not played consecutive minutes like this since 2016, exactly ten years ago, and explained her willingness to accept fewer goals in exchange for his constant presence: "His presence is too important; I'd rather give up a few more goals than see him off the field." Daniele Lo Monaco discussed Gasperini's training approach, noting that some teams had granted eight days of rest while Gasperini wanted everyone working, and commented on Juventus fans turning away during the minute's silence for Mazzola: "If you want to make a protest, that technically was a civil protest. I don't think it was against Mazzola, but against a hypocritical sense of certain celebrations." Gianluca Piacentini praised consistency in refereeing standards across the five matchdays, and Lorenzo Pes suggested Balerdi's defensive positioning — at 40 metres from goal — reflected his Marseille habits and that a season-long rotation between him and Ndícka was likely. The radio consensus acknowledged Roma's competitive strength while debating how far expectations should be allowed to climb.

Roma's radio pundits have delivered their verdicts on the club's title credentials and recent form, with particular focus on goalkeeper Mile Svilar's importance, Leonardo Balerdi's unexpected impact, and concerns over player availability. Nando Orsi told Radio Radio Mattino that Roma were constructed this season to compete for the Serie A title, though he noted few say so openly for superstitious reasons. "The Inter have calculative deficiencies that need to be fixed," he said. "Roma is strong and capable; it just needs to manage its forces. Those who say otherwise do so out of superstition. Roma has a strong squad—Saturday's match confirmed they are among the strongest. Juventus, Milan and Napoli don't seem like teams that can compete: they are too inconsistent. Roma and Inter instead are more ready at a technical and squad level." Orsi added that despite Inter's perceived weakness, Roma remain genuine contenders. Lorenzo Pes highlighted Svilar as a decisive factor for Roma's defence. "Compared to several competitors, including Inter and Como, Roma can boast an element that gives security to the defence and to those watching," he said. "A goalkeeper who brings points is additional help. If Roma's squad can increase goals, it will become interesting, because so far most goals have come from Malen, Soulé and Pisilli." On the squad's recuperation, Simone Valdarchi noted that Lorenzo Pellegrini, despite fully recovering from injury, must still regain match rhythm through work at Trigoria in the coming weeks. Roberto Pruzzo called Leonardo Balerdi a positive surprise: "He is reactive, very practical and does not take unnecessary risks. On the defensive phase he is numerically sound and is added value." Mario Mattioli described Balerdi as an experienced player who made 200 appearances in the French league and is demonstrating his worth in Italy. Both Valdarchi and Piero Torri flagged concerns over the potential absence of Paulo Dybala and Nahuel Molina for Argentina's farewell tribute to Lionel Messi, with fixtures against Como imminent. Torri stated: "The fact that Roma doesn't view the possible departure of Dybala and Molina for Argentina's party favourably seems right to me. Facing two long trips hours before Como–Roma cannot be well regarded."