Juventus abandon Suzuki pursuit, turn attention to Tottenham's Vicario and Ukrainian target

Roma have turned their attention to Malick Fofana, a Lyon winger born in 2005, as a Plan B after negotiations over Rodrigo Mora stalled. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is convinced by the Belgian, who has long been on Roma's radar. However, Roma now face competition from Turkish side Galatasaray, who have entered the running after reportedly being rejected by Martinelli. Initial contact has begun with Fofana's representatives and Lyon, who are demanding at least €40 million to sanction his departure. Gasperini and Roma's sporting director D'Amico have identified the winger as a potential target, though the growing interest from other clubs could complicate negotiations. The arrival of Galatasaray in the hunt signals intensifying competition for Fofana's signature in what could develop into a multi-club transfer race.

Gabriel Martinelli has turned down a transfer offer from Galatasaray, with the Arsenal forward unwilling to leave one of Europe's leading leagues at 25 years old. The Turkish club had offered €45 million to the Gunners to secure the Brazilian winger, but he declined the move. Martinelli remains on Roma's radar as a potential attacking addition, though the deal faces significant obstacles. His substantial wage demands at Arsenal make the transfer complicated, and the player's preference for competing in Europe's top divisions has now been made clear. Roma will need to explore alternative solutions to bolster their forward line.

Roma continue to await a response from Porto regarding Mora while scouting reinforcements for their attacking options. The club has Fofana of Lyon under observation and Nkunku on their shortlist. The French forward is outside Amorim's project at his current club, having left Milan for personal reasons, and is awaiting developments in the transfer market. Barcelona have initiated first contacts with his representatives, with Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund also interested. Nkunku's preference remains the Premier League, though no active negotiations are currently underway. Roma remain watching the situation closely as they weigh their options in the final weeks of the transfer window. The competition from Barcelona and other elite European clubs suggests any move for the attacker would face significant obstacles, particularly given his stated preference for English football.

Roma have named their squad for tomorrow's friendly against Borussia Dortmund at 17:30, the final pre-season match following warm-up games against Trastevere, Primavera, Cannes, Cardiff, Newport and Brighton. The Giallorossi will fly to Germany on 14 August, with the match taking place on Ferragosto (15 August). Molina earns his first call-up and is available to head coach Gasperini, while Koné returns to the squad. Absent through injury are Pisilli and Pellegrini; Wesley is also ruled out with a mild ankle sprain. Academy player Morucci has been included in the attacking contingent. The 24-man squad includes three goalkeepers—De Marzi, Gollini and Svilar—and a broad defensive line featuring Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Ziólkowski, Mannini, Reale, Lulli and Ghilardi. Cristante, El Aynaoui and Koné form the midfield core, while the attack comprises Castro, Malen, Soulé, Dybala, Vaz and Morucci. The squad depth reflects Roma's preparation for the new season amid the pre-campaign injury list.

Roma's transfer strategy dominated debate among Rome-based radio analysts on 14 August 2026. Carina suggested that the day represented a critical moment for Rodrigo Mora, with agent Jorge Mendes attempting to repair the fractured relationship between player and club. Carina also noted that Gasperini had been keen on Nkunku in January and remained interested now: "The problem is the player's salary, which exceeds 5 million euros per year." Pruzzo was sceptical of some proposed alternatives, stating that "Luis Henrique and Cacciamani are not elements that make you take a quality leap." He suggested Luis Henrique on loan with an option could work, but not for a €30 million transfer fee. On outgoings, Pruzzo advocated holding Matías Soulé despite his two seasons at Roma without a significant breakthrough, hoping he would find optimal form and confidence. Furio Zara praised Castro as an excellent acquisition capable of a quality leap, while criticising Molina's decline since his Udinese days. Orsi questioned why Roma had failed to identify and sign a left-sided defender of the required profile within a year, and suggested he would sell Svilar for €45 million to fund a move for Vicario.

Roma will face Borussia Dortmund in their final pre-season friendly on 15 August at 17:30 at Signal Iduna Park. Gian Piero Gasperini's side complete their build-up after a British tour with this test match in Germany. Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Neil El Aynaoui and Bryan Cristante anchor the midfield, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé supporting Donyell Malen in attack. Borussia Dortmund will deploy an identical shape, managed by Kovac. Tickets are available through the Borussia Dortmund club website. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text updates available on ilromanista.eu.