Lyon set Fofana price at €37.5m plus €2.5m add-ons as Roma weigh move

Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool are among Premier League clubs tracking Emanuele Lulli, Roma's young defender, according to reports in England. Scouts from the English clubs had initially focused on Wesley at Roma, but their attention has also turned to Lulli, a 2007-born product of Roma's academy. Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are also reported to be monitoring the player. Lulli has established himself as an important part of Gasperini's Roma squad this season. The player hopes to feature in tomorrow's match at Como. Separately, Roma have opened talks with the player over a contract renewal, with both parties aiming to extend his current agreement.

The Friedkin Group has opened the door to selling its controlling stake in Everton while reinforcing its long-term investment in AS Roma, marking a strategic shift that places the Italian club at the centre of the Texan ownership's football portfolio. The group stated: "The Friedkin Group is evaluating new investment options for Everton Football Club, including the potential sale of a controlling stake." The move reflects no immediate urgency to divest but signals a willingness to explore offers from buyers deemed capable of "taking the club forward and consolidating the momentum that has been created" while continuing to support it in the interim. The valuation of Everton, according to Il Messaggero, could reach approximately £800 million including debt. Estimates of the group's initial outlay differ: Il Messaggero indicates around £400 million for the acquisition of 94.1% of shares from Farhad Moshiri, while Il Tempo quantifies total investment at approximately £600 million. An exit at that valuation would represent a favourable outcome economically. Crucially, the article identifies UEFA multi-ownership rules governing simultaneous European participation as a factor in the group's thinking—having two clubs from the same ownership in UEFA competitions requires strict compliance with regulations on multiple club ownership, though this is not identified as the sole driver of a potential sale. Roma presents the inverse picture. Since arriving in the capital, the Friedkin Group has committed over €1 billion in investments and tied a central component of its project to building a new stadium at Pietralata, an undertaking estimated to cost around €1.3 billion overall. Everton's 2024-25 accounts showed revenues of £196.7 million and losses reduced to £8.6 million. The group is also reportedly working on establishing a new NHL franchise in Texas in the Houston-Austin area for approximately $3.5 billion, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport, further demonstrating its appetite for major sports portfolio expansion. The article emphasizes that any Everton sale proceeds would not automatically flow to Roma, as these represent separate holding-level assets and investments. The strategic signal, however, is unambiguous: while the Friedkin Group evaluates an exit from Everton after stabilizing the club, Roma remains in an active growth and construction phase, with the Pietralata stadium project serving as the ultimate test of Roma's centrality to the ownership's vision.

The Friedkin Group is to sell Everton, with the sale expected to value the Premier League club at around £800 million including £380 million of debt, according to reporting from Il Messaggero. The family acquired 94.1 per cent of Everton from Farhad Moshiri for approximately £400 million, meaning the exit would constitute a significant financial gain if it completes at the reported valuation. Everton's accounts for 2024–25 published by the Premier League showed record revenues of £196.7 million and reduced losses of £8.6 million, demonstrating the group's success in stabilising the club's finances and completing its infrastructure. Roma remains the strategic centre of the Friedkin Group's football interests. While there is no set timeline for the Everton sale, the decision to exit reflects both economic opportunity and a practical conflict: managing two clubs simultaneously in UEFA competitions has proven more difficult than initially anticipated from Houston. The group initially believed it could handle both Roma and Everton's European campaigns concurrently, but that confidence has waned over time. Some observers contend the Everton purchase was a short-term speculation rather than a long-term investment, evidenced by the absence of any deep bond between the English supporters and the ownership. By contrast, the Friedkin Group's commitment to Roma differs markedly. The family has repeatedly strengthened the squad on the transfer market and has kept the Pietralata stadium project at the forefront of strategic thinking. Since taking control of Roma, the group has invested more than €1 billion and is preparing to spend a further €1.3 billion on construction of the new ground. The squad has been made competitive for Serie A's summit and has returned Roma to the Champions League, underscoring where the family's true priorities lie.

Roma head to Como with an unresolved dilemma in midfield as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini evaluates his best options against Cesc Fabregas's side. The main competition is between Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini for a starting place, with Rodrigo Mora having lost ground in recent deliberations. Gasperini is factoring in the condition of players returning from international duty and the tactical demands of the fixture. Soulé would have been the favourite to start from the outset, but his return from national-team commitments has reopened the contest with Pellegrini, who remained at Trigoria during the international break. The final decision will depend on both players' fitness and preparation ahead of the match. Beyond fitness considerations, Gasperini has studied Como's tactical shape and believes Fabregas may deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation. The Roma coach sees merit in fielding a player capable of providing greater width than Mora on the three-quarter line—a characteristic that could favour Soulé above all, or Pellegrini, both currently viewed as better suited to the match's demands.

Gian Piero Gasperini confirmed that goalkeeper Mile Svilar will miss around a month of action following an injury sustained a week ago during training, but expressed confidence that Pierluigi Gollini can perform the role. Speaking at a press conference on the eve of Como's visit to Roma, Gasperini said Gollini has the quality to step in: "In his career perhaps I'm the only one who has made him play with continuity. He's an excellent second. Now he has the opportunity to play regularly. When I coached him at Genoa he reached being second in the national team for a couple of years. He has the ability, he's trained well these months. He must have everyone's confidence. Now he has the possibility to give continuity." Gasperini also confirmed that captain Lorenzo Pellegrini has fully recovered from his injury during the three-week international break. "Pellegrini is fine, these weeks have been very useful. He is recovered," the coach said. The squad was assembling gradually after the break, with Argentine players arriving last to train together for the first time yesterday. Gasperini stressed that Roma will play many fixtures in the coming period—nine matches in 27 days—allowing him to rotate players across all positions, including the external lanes where Wesley has performed strongly. Wesley was described as having played "extraordinary" against Inter, though Gasperini made clear these are personal assessments. On the defensive issues that have emerged early in the season, Gasperini said: "These are sometimes particular. Pay attention to them, but I am very satisfied with the goals we score in the first half, or the recoveries. We seek to maintain the good. Having conceded goals in the same situation at the start of the second half makes you think but in my opinion they were more individual situations than a team attitude." Midfielder Rodrigo Mora, recently arrived, will be available, as will Marten de Roon and Nahuel Molina—all of whom benefited from the break. Leonardo Balerdi departed during the break. Gasperini noted that 18 outfield players plus Gollini are in movement, with 16 set to play tomorrow. On Roma's ownership, Gasperini said: "They do what they think is most appropriate. To make a squad like I think important, I believe a big society also becomes that with an ownership close by. I came here speaking with Dan and Ryan and this convinced me that important work could be done. I hope we are still in that idea and that vision." The coach dismissed suggestions that Roma's environment is limiting, saying: "I don't have to bring anyone over to my side. Enthusiasm is contagious for me and the squad. Playing in the middle of this passion with a stadium always full is something favourable and positive."

Mile Svilar's availability for Roma's Serie A fixture against Como on 11 October is uncertain after he sustained a finger injury during the match against Inter. The goalkeeper has not trained with the squad in recent days, and optimism has diminished as the match approaches. Pierluigi Gollini, who arrived in January 2025, stands ready to deputise. Since his arrival in the capital, Gollini has played only once — against Panathinaikos in the final matchday of last season's UEFA Europa League group phase. Gian Piero Gasperini will make his final decision at today's training session. Roma face tactical decisions elsewhere ahead of the 12:30 kickoff on matchday six. Behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, one of Rodrigo Mora, Matías Soulé and Lorenzo Pellegrini will operate in the attacking midfield role. Marten de Roon will replace the injured Bryan Cristante in the centre of midfield, partnering Manu Koné. Wesley lines up at left back, with a contest between Nahuel Molina and Emanuele Lulli for the right flank. The back three consists of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The squad departs for Como today.