Koné and El Aynaoui draw Premier League suitors ahead of France–Morocco quarter-final

Gianluca Mancini is enjoying the final weekend of rest before Roma's pre-season begins on Monday 13 July at Trigoria under Gian Piero Gasperini. The defender, recognised as a leader and the embodiment of the club's identity, has been keeping fit through cycling—one of his earliest sporting passions alongside swimming before he committed fully to football. Mancini's contract expires in 2027, but a new deal is now close to completion. Despite recent speculation linking him to Inter, both the player and Roma are determined to continue their partnership, with negotiations targeting an extension through to 2029. The Pontedera-born centre-back has been a cornerstone of the Giallorossi defence and remains central to Gasperini's plans for the 2026–27 season.

Roma have stepped up their effort to sign Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Brugge, targeting the 21-year-old as a backup option to Donyell Malen. The italo-German forward, born in Cagliari but developed in Germany, is a long-standing target for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the club's hierarchy. To outpace rival interest—notably from Atlético Madrid—Roma are preparing to push through a deal before formally completing Artem Dovbyk's departure, with sporting director Tony D'Amico working to soften Brugge's demands of approximately 30 million euros by proposing a loan with a purchase option. Tresoldi's personal preference could prove decisive: the forward has made clear his sole desire is to join Roma. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, he has already expressed this preference to Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Official contacts between the clubs are set to intensify from the coming week, aided by the fact that Tresoldi shares the same agents as Can Uzun, the Eintracht Frankfurt playmaker long tracked by Roma. Roma aim to deliver their first summer signing to Gasperini as quickly as possible, allowing him to integrate the young talent into his tactical framework from the start of pre-season.

Roma are among several European clubs tracking Mika Godts, the Ajax winger, as director D'Amico continues to strengthen the attacking options available to Gasperini. The Belgian prospect, born 2005, recorded 17 goals and 15 assists for Ajax last season and has attracted interest from a number of top sides across the continent. Juventus have now entered the pursuit alongside Roma, adding another layer of competition for the 19-year-old's signature. Ajax have set their asking price at 40–45 million euros for Godts. Juventus, searching for young talent to support Spalletti's project, have not yet submitted an offer to the Amsterdam club, according to Belgian outlet VoetballNieuws. The race for the winger also involves other suitors; Milan are reportedly preparing to make space in their squad through the departure of Leao, positioning themselves as another bidder. Roma's interest in Godts forms part of a broader recruitment drive this window, with Tresoldi, Garnacho, and Moreira also circulating as targets under consideration. The competition for Godts is expected to intensify as the window progresses, with multiple clubs now openly pursuing the young Belgian.

Gian Piero Gasperini has reason to be pleased with his two World Cup-bound midfielders, Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, after their displays in recent weeks. Despite their quality, the pair started together only five times during the previous season under Roma's coach: three occasions in Europa League against Nizza, Viktoria Plzen, and Midtjylland, and twice in Serie A. The limited partnerships stand in stark contrast to their recent performances on the international stage in the USA. The World Cup traditionally reshapes team dynamics and attracts attention from rival clubs, particularly if nations progress deep into the tournament. Koné faces heightened interest should France reach the final stages, while El Aynaoui has long been the subject of admiration from other sides. Should both continue at Roma, however, Gasperini will command two midfielders in peak condition—a resource valuable both on the pitch and potentially in financial terms should circumstances demand a sale.

Manu Koné produced an outstanding performance as France defeated Morocco 2-0, showcasing the intensity and ball-winning prowess that have marked his tournament. Deployed in midfield as Tchouameni faced repeated fitness issues, Koné made his fourth World Cup start across six appearances, playing 71 minutes before being replaced by Zaire-Emery. His display was characterised by relentless pressing and tactical discipline, recovering possession at crucial moments—including one key intervention early in the second half on a Brahim Diaz counter-attack that could have shifted the match's trajectory. Koné's statistics underlined his control of the middle ground: 35 completed passes from 38 attempts (92% accuracy), one key pass, six ball recoveries, four tackles won, and one shot attempted. His energetic contribution drew praise from supporters on social media. The Roma midfielder's combative style marks a departure from his domestic approach, where he typically operates with more restraint. Notably, his Roma teammate Neil El Aynaoui also featured in the fixture. France now advance to the semi-finals, where they will face either Spain or Belgium.

France reached the World Cup 2026 semi-finals with a 2–0 victory over Morocco, with Roma midfielder Manu Koné playing a central role in the triumph. Adrien Rabiot, his partner in France's midfield, publicly praised Koné's display after the match, highlighting their dominance in the middle of the park. Rabiot said: "Me and Manu were devastating, we ate them up," referring to the midfield duel. He added broader context on France's control: "We had the feeling that in moments when we didn't have the ball and let them have it, they weren't very dangerous. We had little to fear from this team. That's the feeling we had on the pitch. It's surprising. But they remain a team that can make a difference at any moment because they have extraordinary individual players. That's why we always stayed alert." French media gave Koné equally strong marks. Le Parisien called him "omnipresent", while L'Équipe praised his dominant performance and complete display. The match carried special significance for Roma: Koné and fellow club teammate Neil El Aynaoui faced each other with a semi-final berth at stake. The Frenchman advanced while the Moroccan's tournament ended at the quarter-final stage. After the final whistle, the two Roma players embraced in a show of mutual respect, a gesture later shared on social media by Koné's partner.

Roma have stepped up their effort to sign Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Brugge, targeting the 21-year-old as a backup option to Donyell Malen. The italo-German forward, born in Cagliari but developed in Germany, is a long-standing target for head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and the club's hierarchy. To outpace rival interest—notably from Atlético Madrid—Roma are preparing to push through a deal before formally completing Artem Dovbyk's departure, with sporting director Tony D'Amico working to soften Brugge's demands of approximately 30 million euros by proposing a loan with a purchase option. Tresoldi's personal preference could prove decisive: the forward has made clear his sole desire is to join Roma. According to Gazzetta dello Sport, he has already expressed this preference to Roma midfielder Niccolò Pisilli. Official contacts between the clubs are set to intensify from the coming week, aided by the fact that Tresoldi shares the same agents as Can Uzun, the Eintracht Frankfurt playmaker long tracked by Roma. Roma aim to deliver their first summer signing to Gasperini as quickly as possible, allowing him to integrate the young talent into his tactical framework from the start of pre-season.

Roma are pushing to sign Nicolò Tresoldi as understudy to Donyell Malen, with an acceleration in negotiations expected this week. The 21-year-old Italian-German striker, born in Cagliari but developed in Germany, has been tracked by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and Roma for months. Tresoldi has already discussed a move with Niccolò Pisilli, signalling his preference for Roma over rivals including Atlético Madrid. Roma hope to land the class of 2004 prospect without waiting for Artem Dovbyk's departure, attempting to lower Bruges' €30 million valuation by proposing a loan with a purchase option. Gasperini sees Tresoldi as an early reinforcement to integrate new signings into the squad. Tresoldi shares the same agents as Uzun, the Eintracht Frankfurt attacking midfielder also monitored by Roma, which may facilitate discussions.

Gian Piero Gasperini has instructed Roma to pursue only top-tier attacking reinforcements, leaving recent offers for Dan Ndoye and Noa Lang in abeyance. The head coach has made clear that second-tier players will not be considered; instead, Roma's priority targets are Moreira, Garnacho, and Tresoldi. Gasperini has emphasised that the club should not sign many players but rather three or four carefully chosen ones of high calibre. The attack remains the focal point of Roma's transfer strategy, with wide forwards at the top of the wishlist. A backup to Donyell Malen is also being sought, and Artem Dovbyk's position does not preclude the arrival of another striker. This selective approach reflects Gasperini's determination to avoid quantity over quality as Roma look to strengthen their squad.

Dario Bonetti has thrown his weight behind Manu Koné remaining at Roma, citing his standout performances at the World Cup as proof of his absolute value to Gian Piero Gasperini's midfield. Speaking exclusively to Romanews.eu, Bonetti said: "The World Cup is proving he is a midfielder of absolute value, fundamental in relaunching the action and in ball recovery, an aspect fundamental to Gasperini's football." Bonetti also praised the club's decision to retain Paulo Dybala with proper financial terms, believing the forward should have been kept: "I would have retained him too with the right economic conditions; from now on it will be important that he stays healthy and is managed by Gasperini's staff in a way to prevent injuries." Bonetti noted that while Roma lost time pursuing Mason Greenwood, the transfer market's inherent complications mean securing the right deals is difficult. He stressed the importance of maintaining the squad's strong foundation, which has already secured Champions League qualification. Regarding Gasperini's demeanour heading into pre-season, Bonetti attributed the coach's apparent calm not to the arrival of sporting director D'Amico but rather to Gasperini's established standing at the club after his first season: "Last year Gasperini had to settle in, had everything to prove and felt the pressure of an environment to conquer; a year later he has that environment in his hands, including the fans, and restarts from a strong squad."

Roma's renewal campaign is advancing on multiple fronts, with Paulo Dybala's contract extension all but finalised pending only his signature. Zeki Çelik and Lorenzo Pellegrini have both reached verbal agreement with the club on fresh deals, though final bureaucratic steps and definitive approval from ownership remain outstanding before the announcements can be made official. The contracts of all three players expired on 30 June, leaving the renewal dossier a priority for sporting director D'Amico. While Roma's intention is clearly to keep all three, the club must complete the closing formalities to bring each renewal across the line. Matteo Moretto reported the developments on Fabrizio Romano's YouTube channel, noting that the final administrative procedures and ownership sign-off are needed to conclude the chapter. With Dybala's renewal closest to completion, Çelik and Pellegrini are expected to follow suit once the outstanding steps are resolved.

Roma have identified Alejandro Garnacho as a genuine transfer target, with the Argentine winger reportedly open to joining the Giallorossi. Chelsea signed Garnacho from Manchester United last summer for a reported fee of £40 million, but the 22-year-old has struggled in the Premier League. He made 24 Premier League appearances for the Blues, scoring once and registering four assists, failing to justify Chelsea's investment. New manager Xabi Alonso has put Garnacho on the market, and Roma have emerged as one of the likeliest destinations. Gian Piero Gasperini's side face a significant obstacle in negotiations: Roma would prefer to sign Garnacho on loan with an option to buy, but Chelsea are keen to recoup their investment permanently in the coming months. However, the player's alleged desire to continue his career in Serie A works in Roma's favour. With Paulo Dybala on the cusp of signing a new contract, Garnacho could provide additional attacking depth. Matías Soulé may depart, creating space for another Argentine forward. Gasperini has built a reputation for revitalising struggling players, making this a potential gamble worth pursuing.