Kessié and Juventus still deadlocked; Roma watching brief

Franck Kessié has turned down a transfer to Juventus, Sky Sport and Gianluca Di Marzio reported on 29 August. The Ivorian midfielder's entourage communicated to the Turin club that the conditions for completing the move were not in place. Fabrizio Romano confirmed the news, stating that there was no agreement on a third year of contract and the signing bonus tied to that third year. Juventus has now frozen the operation unless circumstances change. Roma have emerged as a potential destination for Kessié. The Giallorossi had shown interest in the midfielder, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini knows him well from their time together at Atalanta. However, the collapse of the Juventus deal does not automatically open the door to Roma. The club must determine whether it can and wants to meet Kessié's financial demands, which had already complicated negotiations with Juventus. Kessié has also received substantial offers from Saudi Arabia. The Juventus talks had continued until the final hours, with club officials including Massara and Spalletti hopeful of reaching an agreement. The negotiations, however, found no common ground. Kessié's future now remains completely open following the rejection of the Bianconeri's proposal.

Roma will not strengthen their wing-back options before the transfer window closes, barring late surprises. With Devyne Rensch sidelined by a left flexor injury, Gian Piero Gasperini will rely on four defenders to cover the flanks until January: Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina on the right, and Wesley on the left. Molina featured prominently in Roma's opening match against Fiorentina last Monday, while Lulli has also impressed in recent action. The Oosterwolde deal collapsed following additional medical checks, and with Balerdi's arrival imminent to complete the centre-back contingent, Roma have decided against further recruitment in the defensive ranks. The club's focus has instead shifted to signing an attacking left winger rather than a fourth midfield full-back, a decision made in light of the positive performances from Lulli. Any further wing signings remain possible in the final days of the market, but none is planned at present.

Leonardo Balerdi is set to become Roma's fifth summer signing, joining from Olympique Marseille on loan with a right of purchase that can become an obligation based on certain appearance thresholds. The Argentine defender, who holds Italian citizenship and was born in 1999, is expected to arrive imminently and will sign a contract through 2031. The deal is valued between €15 and €20 million in total and was completed in just over 48 hours through quiet negotiations by the Roma hierarchy. Bareldi's path to Roma stretches back years. In 2025, then-sporting director Ghisolfi pursued him, while last summer Gasperini specifically requested the signing. However, Marseille's valuation proved prohibitively high at that time; only now, with the French club needing to offload players, has the operation become feasible. Sporting director D'Amico had identified Balerdi while working with Gasperini at Atalanta in summer 2024, following a Europa League semi-final meeting between the clubs. That interest stalled over valuation concerns. D'Amico had also negotiated with Marseille over defender Aguerd in recent days, but the Moroccan declined a loan move, bringing Balerdi back into focus. At 27, Balerdi will join Roma's growing contingent of Argentine players at Trigoria: Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, Santiago Castro and Nahuel Molina.

Neil El Aynaoui's future at Roma remains uncertain as the transfer window enters its final phase. The midfielder is among the players Roma could offload in the coming days, but the terms being offered present a significant obstacle to a swift exit. Crystal Palace and several German clubs have shown interest, but all overtures so far have been structured around loan deals, possibly with a right of redemption attached. Roma will not accept those conditions. The club wants to sell El Aynaoui on a permanent basis if it chooses to part with him, rather than defer the matter to next summer. Without a concrete proposal for an outright purchase of his contract, El Aynaoui is likely to remain at the club. The final days of the window could yet shift the picture, but Roma will require a substantially different offer from those received to date before allowing him to leave. El Aynaoui joined Roma on a five-year deal from Lens last summer. The closing stages of the transfer market may still produce surprises, but the club's clear preference for a permanent sale means his departure is far from guaranteed.

Franck Kessié remains unsigned in the final days of the transfer window after failing to reach an agreement with Juventus despite being in pole position for his signature. The Ivorian midfielder, free after departing Al Ahli, has circulated in Roma's orbit for several days. Gasperini, who worked with Kessié at Atalanta, would be pleased to reunite with him, and Roma could make a move should they offload Moroccan Neil El Aynaoui. El Aynaoui is on the market but has attracted only loan interest so far, with Crystal Palace and German clubs having made approaches. Roma could pursue Kessié as a free agent in the closing stages of the window, but the operation would prove complex. The obstacles are substantial: agent commissions, a signing bonus, and wages all present barriers to a deal—the same complications that have also blocked Juventus from completing a move.

Roma are closing in on defender Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille, with the transfer expected to be finalised today, 29 August, ahead of the summer window's closure at 20:00 on 1 September. Balerdi, an Argentine with Italian citizenship, will arrive on a loan deal worth approximately €2 million, with a conditional right of purchase tied to appearances and set at around €15 million according to La Gazzetta dello Sport—though Il Messaggero puts the loan fee at €1 million and the purchase option at €20 million. If the deal is triggered, the player will sign a contract lasting until 2031. The arrival clears the way for Roma to intensify their pursuit of a left-sided attacker, the club's primary remaining market target. Two names dominate the search: Jadon Gittens and Romain Fofana, with Gittens preferred. Roma have proposed a loan with a purchase option linked to appearances for Gittens, but Chelsea have not yet opened the door to a loan deal. Fofana, meanwhile, is waiting for Roma's call, though Lyon's asking price remains high because the French club missed out on Champions League qualification. The two signings illustrate a broader shape to Roma's window: they are willing to use loans and conditional options to manage fees. Roma's plans to strengthen the left-back position appear unlikely to happen. Despite the collapse of the Oosterwolde operation, the club does not intend to reinforce the fullback ranks unless a last-minute opportunity emerges. Wesley, Nahuel Molina, Devyne Rensch and Emanuele Lulli remain available to head coach Gian Piero Gasperini at that station. Separately, Roma continue to monitor midfielder Franck Kessié, who remains a free agent after rejecting a move to Juventus. However, Roma must first offload Neil El Aynaoui on a permanent basis—a difficult task given that only loan proposals from Crystal Palace and German clubs have arrived, with the costs of his wages, signing bonus and agent commissions proving prohibitive.