Koné central to Roma's plans as Manchester City joins pursuit

Crysencio Summerville has made a difficult start to life at Al Hilal after rejecting Roma's interest in favour of a move to Saudi Arabia. The Dutch forward was at fault for errors in consecutive matches, first squandering a chance from close range on his debut, then missing a penalty kick on the following evening. Al Hilal secured three points despite Summerville's misses under the management of Simone Inzaghi's staff. Roma supporters have taken to social media to mock the winger's early struggles, viewing the incidents as vindication of his decision to spurn the club's advances. The rejections appear to have been accepted by the Giallorossi fanbase, with the player's departure no longer a source of frustration among supporters. Damiano David, the frontman of Måneskin and a prominent Roma supporter, joined other fans in posting a comment: "How much it pains us" — a tongue-in-cheek jab at Summerville's misfortune. David had previously expressed enthusiasm for Roma's incoming business, celebrating the arrival of Rodrigo Mora to the capital with the comment: "I'm moved to tears." The contrast between the two reactions underscores how quickly Roma's focus has shifted away from Summerville's departure to the new signings bolstering the squad.

Roma face a critical fortnight in the transfer market with 11 days until the summer window closes and just over 72 hours before the 2026-27 season begins. The squad still lacks depth in two areas: a left-back and a left-winger. Head coach Gasperini wants at least two players for every position, so director D'Amico is exploring both signings and sales to balance the books. Jan Ziółkowski is the primary candidate to leave Rome. Although Gasperini prefers Ziółkowski over Ghilardi, the Polish defender has attracted more interest—particularly from Saudi Arabia, where Neom recently made an approach—because of his age and senior international experience. Roma are seeking €20 million for him, with 10 per cent of any future resale due to Legia Warsaw. Should Ziółkowski depart, Roma would need to find a replacement centre-back, likely on loan with a purchase option. Matías Soulé has also drawn fresh interest from Sunderland, managed by former Roma sporting director Ghisolfi, though no formal negotiations have opened. Gasperini has secured Manu Koné's future despite Manchester City's interest, viewing a replacement midfielder as impossible to source within the remaining timeframe. A double signing remains possible, but with left-back prioritized, the left-winger may only arrive following a departure.

Roma continues to search for offensive reinforcements as the transfer window enters its final 11 days, with left-back Luis Henrique of Inter emerging as the primary target for the wide position. A loan deal for Henrique is under negotiation, though no agreement has yet been reached with Inter over the formula. Midfield remains the secondary priority, with Roma working on loan moves after ruling out costly outright purchases. Manu Koné is expected to remain at Roma despite reported interest from Manchester City, as no formal bid has arrived at Trigoria. Alternatives at centre midfield—Fofana, Udogie, and Cacciamani—have all stalled. Fofana's €35 million-plus-bonus deal has been shelved because the Friedkin Group will not approve the current financial structure; Udogie faces obstacles both from Tottenham's refusal to negotiate a temporary transfer and from the player's own objections; Cacciamani has been deprioritized following resistance from Torino. Roma's ability to pursue incomings depends on outgoings. Ziolkowski has attracted interest from Neom, while Soulé has drawn attention from Sunderland. The club is now prioritizing loan arrangements with purchase options as a pathway forward given the constraints on spending.

Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact at Roma since arriving at the Fulvio Bernardini training centre on Wednesday, impressing head coach Gian Piero Gasperini enough to earn consideration for a starting place in Monday's season opener against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Gasperini is expected to deploy his customary 3-4-1-2 formation for the league debut, with three attacking midfielders operating behind the front pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Matías Soulé remains the favourite for the trequartista role, but Mora has risen sharply in the pecking order after impressing in initial training sessions. Bryan Cristante offers an alternative and defensive balance, though the ongoing fitness concerns surrounding Manu Koné and Neil El Aynaoui, combined with Niccolò Pisilli's gradual return, may push Cristante back into midfield proper. The match is expected to draw a large crowd, with the visiting supporters' section now open to Fiorentina fans.

Niccolò Pisilli has cleared medical checks at Trigoria and is on course for selection in Roma's opening Serie A fixture against Fiorentina. The academy product has resumed regular group training after recovering from a calf muscle injury that sidelined him since late July, and is pushing Manu Koné for a starting berth alongside Bryan Cristante in midfield, though Koné currently holds the edge in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical plans. Pisilli, born in 2004, was unavailable for much of the pre-season campaign but is now building momentum four days before the season opener. Koné, meanwhile, missed most of pre-season preparation owing to post-World Cup rest, yet remains slightly favoured for the midfield role. Wesley, the left-sided Brazilian defender, sustained a minor ankle sprain in recent days that forced him to sit out an August 15th friendly against Borussia Dortmund. The club has implemented precautionary measures with partial training for Wesley, but he is expected to start on the left flank for Roma's debut at Stadio Olimpico.

Rodrigo Mora has made an immediate impact at Roma's training base and is in contention to start against Fiorentina on Monday at the Olimpico, where the club will begin its Serie A campaign. The playmaker, who arrived on Wednesday at Trigoria, is competing for a starting role in the number 10 position alongside Matías Soulé and Bryan Cristante. Under Gasperini's preferred 3-4-1-2 formation against four-at-the-back defences, Soulé is currently favored but Mora has impressed the coach within two training sessions and could challenge for the role. Gasperini will conduct tactical work today and hold a pre-match press conference at Trigoria tomorrow, where the transfer market is expected to feature among topics discussed. Cristante would offer greater defensive balance in midfield, though the coach's options in that area are limited. Roma's sporting director D'Amico continues to work on securing a winger—a priority gap in the squad—while the club also pursues opportunities for an additional attacking reinforcement.