Greenwood impasse: salary and transfer fee remain sticking points as Gasperini backs Roma push

Gasperini is pursuing Oosterwolde as a defensive upgrade with rare positional flexibility. The 25-year-old can operate as a left-back across the full width of the pitch, as a centre-back in a three-man defence, or push forward on the left flank — a true utility player willing to play wherever needed. Standing 1.89 metres tall with pace and physical presence, he is difficult to beat and dangerous in transition, precisely the profile Gasperini seeks in his players. Oosterwolde is regarded as a superior version of Roma's Çelik with the same versatility but greater quality overall. His injury record appears clean: a cruciate ligament injury two years ago remains his only significant setback, and he has otherwise maintained consistent availability without long absences from play. At 25, he has the scope to develop further under Gasperini's coaching. Roma await his arrival.

Oosterwolde has set his sights on Roma and is pushing hard to join the club. Roma is attempting to close the deal as soon as today through sporting director D'Amico, with negotiations structured around a loan fee of €1 million plus €15 million for a mandatory purchase option. The Dutch player is currently sidelined by injury sustained in early August and will need approximately three more weeks to recover. Roma has already checked on his physical condition and shows no sign of stepping back from the pursuit. Oosterwolde is doing his part to force the move. He has turned down two other offers and made his ambition clear: he wants Roma. He has even asked Fenerbahce to release him, reportedly telling the Turkish club he wants the capital, wants Gasperini, and is done with Turkey. The club remains attentive to his recovery timeline despite the injury setback.

Roma have tabled a serious offer for Chelsea winger Gittens comprising €3 million for a loan and €40 million for a permanent option, but the Blues have rejected the approach outright. Director D'Amico is racing against time to deliver Gasperini two final reinforcements — a striker and a winger — yet the Gittens path appears blocked. Chelsea view the former Dortmund player as central to their project and are determined not to let him leave. Xabi Alonso has already assessed Gittens during pre-season and was impressed by what he saw, viewing him as the primary alternative to Morgan Rogers in the pecking order. Chelsea's stance has hardened further with Mudryk already heading for the exit door; the club has no intention of losing another attacking player in the same window. The message from Stamford Bridge is firm: Gittens is not available. Roma's pursuit continues despite the setback, but with the transfer window nearing closure, Chelsea are unlikely to abandon their preference to develop the winger in-house rather than loan him out.

Roma has welcomed numerous players through the summer transfer window over the past six seasons, each making their competitive debut in the opening fixture of the Serie A season. The club's acquisition strategy has brought in attacking talent including Artem Dovbyk and Matías Soulé, alongside established figures like Paulo Dybala, who have all been tasked with delivering immediate impact from their first matches in giallorossi colours. The article traces the pattern of how Roma's recruitment has introduced fresh faces to the squad ahead of each campaign's opening weekend, examining the debuts and early performances of these summer arrivals as they integrate into Gasperini's setup.

Matías Soulé is under pressure to secure his place in Gian Piero Gasperini's lineup for Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with fellow Argentine Rodrigo Mora having impressed in early training sessions at Trigoria. The 2003-born forward is competing for a role in the attacking three behind the Dybala-Malen pairing, though Gasperini's system remains flexible enough to deploy a dual attacking midfielder setup. Soulé has shed excess weight recorded during a mid-July training camp and regained optimal fitness, though he is still refining the movements required by his manager's tactical approach. Transfer speculation has intensified in the final days of the summer window, with AC Milan reportedly considering a move, but Roma have received no concrete offers and a departure appears unlikely at present. The player himself has shown no desire to leave, according to reports, and the prospect of a fresh start under Gasperini combined with the presence of fellow Argentine teammates is driving his commitment to establish himself as a key figure in the Giallorossi project.

Matías Soulé is fighting for a starting place in Roma's opening Serie A match against Fiorentina on 24 August, with competition from Rodrigo Mora for the attacking midfield role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Mora has impressed the coaching staff in early training and is challenging Soulé for the position, which does not perfectly suit the Argentine's playing style but which he must learn to interpret effectively. Soulé has regained fitness during pre-season after arriving at Trigoria carrying extra weight in mid-July, and his enthusiasm has been boosted by the arrival of two other Argentine players. However, transfer speculation has continued to shadow the final weeks of the summer window. Milan have been linked with a move, though no concrete offers have materialised and a departure appears unlikely at this stage. Soulé does not wish to leave the club and remains motivated to carve out his role in Gasperini's squad.

Donyell Malen has set his sights on the Serie A capocannoniere award after a prolific run of 14 goals in 18 matches last season, averaging 0.85 goals per game and scoring the decisive goal at Verona that secured Champions League qualification. The Dutch forward is now targeting the crown held by reigning champion Lautaro Martinez. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is designing a tactical framework to sustain Malen's elite scoring rate from the opening fixture against Fiorentina. At that match, Malen will operate as the central striker with a three-man attacking support behind him led by Paulo Dybala, alongside either Rodrigo Mora or Matías Soulé, as the club awaits the full recovery of Lorenzo Pellegrini. Gasperini is also considering a 4-2-3-1 formation later in the season that would deploy Dybala, Mora and Castro simultaneously as attacking midfielders in support of Malen alone, creating what the coach sees as one of Serie A's most explosive attacking combinations.

Donyell Malen has emerged as a serious contender for the Serie A Golden Boot following an extraordinary six-month spell at Roma. The Dutch forward scored 14 goals in 18 matches last season, averaging 0.85 per game, and has set his sights on dethroning reigning capocannoniere Lautaro Martinez, who finished with 17 goals in 30 games. Malen's impact has fundamentally reshaped Roma's attacking balance since arriving, culminating in the club's Champions League qualification secured at the end of May in Verona, where his 14th goal of the campaign proved decisive. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is preparing to give Malen the supply lines he needs for a title assault next season. Against Fiorentina, Roma will field their strongest attacking midfield setup, with options including Paulo Dybala and Rodrigo Mora, or Matías Soulé, while awaiting Lorenzo Pellegrini's return. Gasperini is also considering deploying an unconventional 4-2-3-1 formation with three attacking midfielders—Dybala, Mora and Castro—operating behind the striker, giving Malen optimal service as he aims to become Serie A's leading scorer.

Wesley has returned to full training and will start at left-back in Monday's Serie A opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico (20:45), after recovering from an ankle injury that disrupted his summer preparation. Gian Piero Gasperini has settled on a 3-4-1-2 formation, with Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso in defence, Wesley and Molina on the wings, and Dybala and Malen leading the attack. The main tactical question concerns the number 10 position: Gasperini is tempted to deploy Rodrigo Mora's pure talent from the start, but faces a dilemma. Launching Mora could risk losing defensive balance and midfield cover; instead, Gasperini appears inclined toward a more cautious approach, pairing either Pisilli or El Aynaoui alongside Koné in midfield, with Cristante advanced to the number 10 role to provide substance, runs, and physical presence. Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation after knee surgery, while young Bah has successfully undergone right-knee surgery.