Luis Henrique pursuit abandoned: Oosterwolde to fill left-flank role

Roma are preparing a January move for Chelsea winger Jamie Gittens on loan, with head coach Gasperini already in agreement with the player. Gittens has struggled for first-team opportunities at Chelsea, appearing only 55 minutes in cup competition and never in the Premier League this season. His representatives have sought clarification from the club about a possible departure. Last summer Roma made a strong push to sign him, attracted by the prospect of reuniting him with Donyell Malen, with whom he played at Dortmund. Chelsea refused a loan deal at that time unless it involved midfielder Manu Koné in exchange. The situation is expected to shift in January. Alonso does not favour Gittens, and Chelsea are now open to a loan with a purchase option to prevent his value depreciating further. Roma remain interested and would be frontrunners if a deal materializes, given that Gittens had already agreed to join Gasperini's project. The club are also monitoring Frosinone's Giorgi Kvernadze, a Georgian player who has not yet received official contact but interests Gasperini for both the current season and future planning. Roma are considering blocking a move now ahead of a summer transfer, with a fee around €25 million being discussed for the 2027 window.

Derry Scherhant, a 23-year-old right-footed winger at SC Freiburg, has emerged as a potential target for Roma in a scouting column examining realistic transfer options for Gian Piero Gasperini's attack. Born in Berlin on 10 November 2002, Scherhant stands 1.85 metres tall and weighs 78 kilograms, naturally playing as a left-sided attacker though he can operate on the opposite flank or centrally. Freiburg acquired him in the summer of 2025 for a modest €2 million from Hertha Berlin, where he had recorded 37 appearances, 9 goals and 7 assists in his final season. Freiburg's sporting director Klemens Hartenbach highlighted three core qualities at his arrival: physical strength, good speed and an ability to attack goal. Scherhant's appeal lies not in a single quality but in a combination of attributes suited to Gasperini's demands on wide attackers. Last season in the Bundesliga he completed the most successful dribbles per 90 minutes of any Freiburg player—2.1—despite a success rate of only 37.5 per cent, which speaks to his willingness to take risks. He is a vertical player who often receives the ball wide left and drives inward onto his right foot, but also frequently seeks space without possession. His physical structure and intensity in winning individual duels align with Gasperini's system, in which wide forwards are asked to attack space continuously and work at high intensity. In Freiburg's opening four matches of the 2026-27 Bundesliga season he registered 59 sprints and 222 high-intensity runs, with a top speed of 31.54 km/h—good, though not that of a pure sprinter. He is not blessed with the absolute pace of rivals in his position, but possesses an interesting mix of acceleration, physicality and ball-carrying ability. Scherhant's first full Bundesliga campaign ended with 5 goals in 31 appearances—solid numbers, not yet those of a top-tier offensive winger—but the 2026-27 start has suggested further progress. After four matches Bundesliga records credit him with 1 goal and 3 assists across 12 total shots. His form did not go unnoticed internationally. On 1 October Scherhant started for Germany against Serbia in his senior international debut, with the official DFB database now attributing two appearances to him. Transfermarkt values him at approximately €20 million, a figure that has risen sharply following his strong season start and Germany call-up. One contractual detail merits caution: Freiburg has never publicly disclosed the length of his 2025 contract, though the official German federation database and Capology both indicate a deal expiring on 30 June 2027, whereas Transfermarkt provides no date. If 2027 is indeed his expiration and no hidden options exist, January could present a particularly unusual market opportunity for Freiburg. Scherhant is not yet a player capable of guaranteeing fifteen goals per season and lacks the extreme pace of some role specialists. However, the profile ticks many boxes: 23 years old, naturally right-footed, left-sided winger, 1.85 metres tall, physical presence, dribbling skill, vertical play, Bundesliga experience and clear room for growth. His recent Germany debut suggests the window to pursue him may not remain open much longer.

AS Roma are already planning reinforcements ahead of the January transfer window, with head coach Gasperini keen to add a forward to strengthen the squad. The primary target remains Endrick of Real Madrid, the Brazilian who was in Roma's sights last summer and continues to struggle for minutes under Mourinho, having played only four minutes so far. Real Madrid are open to allowing him to leave, even on loan. Milan are also interested, but Aston Villa have emerged as serious contenders. According to Cadena SER, the Birmingham club have moved to the front of the queue and hold an advantage over both Italian sides. Endrick's lack of playing time at the Bernabéu has made him available for a potential move away from Spain.

Roma's pursuit of Real Madrid forward Endrick remains at an impasse two months after a summer rejection, with the Spanish club offering neither discussion nor closure on a potential move. The international break has revived interest in the 20-year-old, who has made only four minutes of league action and no Champions League appearances under Carlo Ancelotti and remains keen to leave in search of regular playing time. Endrick has repeatedly told Real Madrid he wants to join Roma and wear the giallorosso, most recently reiterating this to José Mourinho before reporting to the Brazilian national team two weeks ago. Ancelotti has publicly acknowledged the forward needs consistent minutes to develop. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has not prioritised the signing, concentrating instead on upcoming fixtures rather than transfer activity—a perspective that makes sense given the January window lies three months away. Roma's primary target remains a winger with specific qualities: physically strong and capable of explosive pace. Endrick is not that profile, though Gasperini would accept him as a secondary option, potentially deploying him on the right wing or as a second striker. The first-choice targets remain Chelsea's Gittens, Stuttgart's Lewelling and Zenit's Luiz Henrique, all of whom were discussed in the closing stages of the summer market and remain on Roma's radar. Only Henrique received significant playing time after negotiations halted in August. Another barrier exists: the Friedkin family's likely demands for departures before any arrival. Soulé has been repeatedly pursued—both in summer and now through the winter window—while a possible move for defender Oosterwolde could mean Rensch or Ghilardi leaving. Oosterwolde was abandoned at the end of August due to physical problems, which are reportedly now resolved. For any Endrick deal to progress, Real Madrid must break its silence, the player must remain committed despite minimal minutes, and Roma must find clarity on squad-trimming priorities.

Roma could reopen talks with Jayden Oosterwolde during the winter transfer window after a summer move collapsed over medical concerns. The club had scheduled the defender's medical examinations before completing the deal, but assessments revealed a significant muscle tear that required surgery and an estimated three-month recovery. Roma chose not to proceed at that point, but have kept the 2001-born left-back on their radar. Director of sport Massimo D'Amico continues to monitor Oosterwolde's progress, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had already approved the move when it was being considered in summer, signalling how highly the former Parma player was valued for the project. The failed summer operation has not damaged relations between the parties. Roma will reassess Oosterwolde once he returns to full fitness and provides sufficient physical guarantees, with the January window offering a chance to revive negotiations that seemed all but done before the injury setback. A recent sign of sustained interest came during Roma's Champions League fixture against Istanbul, when Oosterwolde greeted several Roma players and subsequently held talks with Gasperini and his staff. Much will depend on the Dutch defender's recovery and Roma's own evaluation, but he remains a profile to watch for the giallorossi's left flank.

Roma's interest in Jayden Oosterwolde has not ended despite the dramatic collapse of negotiations last summer. The Dutch player arrived in the capital for medical examinations, but concerns emerged over his muscle injury during those tests. In early September, he underwent surgery with a recovery period estimated at around three months. Director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini have kept Oosterwolde on their radar, with January potentially offering a second opportunity to complete the deal. Gasperini had already approved the move in summer, and both he and D'Amico continue to monitor the player's rehabilitation. The club has not crossed Oosterwolde off their list and remain interested in the former Parma player once he returns to full fitness. A recent encounter in Istanbul before Roma's match against Fenerbahçe showed the relationship remains intact: Oosterwolde greeted several Roma players and met with Gasperini, the medical staff and the fitness team. Roma are watching the progress of his recovery without urgency but without having closed the door either. If his physical condition provides adequate assurances, January could bring Oosterwolde back to the centre of Roma's transfer activity. The summer halt to negotiations need not mark the end of the story.