Milan hold fresh talks over Soulé as Roma demand €35m

Roma are monitoring Georgian forward Kvernadze ahead of the January transfer window, with the club looking to fill an attacking vacancy that remained unfilled in the summer. Kvernadze has scored 5 goals and provided 2 assists across league and cup this season, building on strong performances in Serie B last year, displaying physical presence, aggression and execution speed. An unexpected advantage in any pursuit is already in place at Trigoria: Alessandro Frara, the former youth academy director who arrived this summer from Frosinone, is working closely with sporting director Tony D'Amico and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Frara will have already briefed both the director and the coach on every aspect of the player, covering both personal background and purely tactical considerations. The financial margins of any deal remain unclear at present, though Frosinone could be approaching safety or close to it if they lose Kvernadze in January.

Roma have not filled the left-wing attacking position during the summer transfer window despite head coach Gian Piero Gasperini requesting the move since his arrival. The club is now focusing on younger targets for January or later, with Giorgi Kvernadze, the 23-year-old Georgian winger at Frosinone, emerging as a leading prospect. Kvernadze has delivered an outstanding start to the season with three goals and one assist in five matches. A natural left winger who shoots right-footed, the class of 2003 player can operate across the attacking line and could follow the same path as Matías Soulé, who moved from Frosinone to Roma. However, Napoli and Fiorentina are also tracking him. Director D'Amico has placed Kvernadze on a list of prospects representing a youth-focused approach, with comparisons being drawn to fellow Georgian Kvaratskhelia. The search for an attacking left winger has stretched across three transfer windows without success. Kvernadze could potentially repeat Soulé's trajectory from the Frosinone academy to the capital. Alongside Kvernadze, Roma are monitoring Darryl Bakola, an 18-year-old French midfielder at Sassuolo. The club had targeted Bakola last year before Sassuolo signed him from Marseille in January for €10 million. A box-to-box midfielder with technical ability and strong attacking projection, Bakola is being viewed by Gasperini and D'Amico as a comparable prospect to Manu Koné or as a future version of Ederson in his Atalanta days. Juventus, led by Sassuolo's former director Carnevali, are also competing for Bakola's signature. Roma will continue contact with both clubs in the coming weeks.

Leonardo Balerdi has made an immediate impression at Roma following his move from Olympique Marseille this summer. Speaking from his national team camp, the defender praised his reception: "At Roma I was welcomed very well. The challenge with Lautaro? I already knew him, so I knew it would be very complicated. And indeed it was, but it was a good match." Bareldi has already won over head coach Gasperini, appearing as a starter in two matches and contributing further appearances off the bench. He finished the fixture against Inter cramping in his calf, prompting a precautionary approach to manage the injury. Though still working toward full match fitness, his appearances for his national team are expected to aid his physical development. The defender has two further opportunities to establish himself before Como, with no serious calf concerns reported.

Roma's squad has increased in value by approximately €150 million over the past year, driven by Gian Piero Gasperini's management since his appointment. The club has returned to the Champions League after a seven-year absence, and the upturn extends beyond the pitch into the club's finances. Gasperini, who built a successful nine-year project at Atalanta, is repeating that model at Roma, with improvements visible across every department of the squad. Mile Svilar arrived on a free transfer and remains unchanged in value as an integral goalkeeper, while Evan N'Dicka, also a free signing, is now valued at €35 million. Mario Hermoso has been transformed from a surplus player into a defensive cornerstone worth €15 million. Gianluca Mancini's value has climbed to €25 million, and Leonardo Balerdi, a recent arrival, has already proven his calibre and reclaimed his place in Argentina's squad. Wesley, signed last summer for €25 million, has attracted a €40 million offer from Chelsea that Roma rejected. Young prospect Emanuele Lulli exemplifies the club's emerging talents whose economic value is rising. Niccolò Pisilli, a Roma academy product who rejected potential summer moves, now commands €30 million. Manu Koné, the headline signing of the summer window, remained at the capital despite interest and is valued at €60 million according to Transfermarkt. Donyell Malen's worth has jumped from the €25 million Roma spent in January plus €2 million in loan fees to a current valuation of €50 million. With numerous young players in the squad—including Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora, Daniele Ghilardi, and Matías Soulé—these valuations are expected to grow further if on-field performance remains strong.

Rodrigo Mora has spoken of his ambition to win silverware with Roma and deliver goals at the Stadio Olimpico following his summer arrival from Porto. The 2007-born playmaker, who scored against Lecce in his second match for the club, gave the interview to Canal 11 whilst with Portugal's U21 squad during qualification for the next European Championship. Mora reflected on the magnitude of his transfer after 19 years in Porto, where he spent 10 playing for the club's first team. "It was a different change. I lived 19 years in Porto and 10 I played for Porto. It is a different culture. But I am happy with the change. It will be a positive change," he said. He emphasized his desire to perform at the Olimpico: "I like to score very much. Scoring for Roma was beautiful, but I still want to score at the Stadio Olimpico. It is special and I cannot wait to score at the Stadio Olimpico. The atmosphere at the Stadio Olimpico is something truly special and beautiful and it makes you want to play and score for Roma." Mora praised Paulo Dybala as a crucial influence in his early weeks at the club. "He is someone I admired as a child, now being able to play and train with him...seeing the things he does, that few do...He is a humble person and has helped me a lot in this start at Roma. I like him as a player and as a person. I am grateful to be able to play at his side." On leaving Porto, Mora said: "Goodbyes are never easy. It was difficult. It was a long period, it was my home. It will always be my home. All cycles close, they can reopen later. I leave with my heart full, I was a champion with my club. I leave as a champion and will continue to be another fan of Porto, now cheering from Italy. I wish them good luck. I know things are going well, I hope they continue like that and that the second title arrives." Mora added that he wanted to perform well this season and win titles with Roma, having made his Champions League debut. "Now I want to have a good season at Roma. I made my Champions League debut, it was an important step. I hope to win titles at Roma and to play the best football possible," he said.

Rodrigo Mora has opened up on his first months at Roma since arriving from Porto in the summer, reflecting on the move to Italian football, his impact at the Olimpico and his relationship with Paulo Dybala. Speaking to Canal 11, the Portuguese midfielder discussed the significance of his new environment and his ambitions with the club. Mora left Porto after 10 years with the club, a move he described as difficult but necessary. "Gli addii non sono mai facili," he said. "È stato difficile. È stato un lungo periodo, era casa mia. Sarà sempre casa mia. Tutti i cicli si chiudono, possono riaprirsi più tardi. Me ne vado con il cuore pieno, sono stato un campione con il mio club. Me ne vado da campione e continuerò a essere un altro tifoso del Porto, ora tifando dall'Italia." He added: "Sapevo di aver bisogno di una nuova sfida nella mia vita. Sono grato per tutti questi anni, ma era quello che volevo, una nuova sfida in un campionato competitivo come quello italiano." Mora has already marked his Roma debut with a goal and made his Champions League appearance for the club, calling it an important step. He expressed particular admiration for Dybala, saying: "È uno che ammiravo da bambino, ora poter giocare e allenarmi con lui… vedere le cose che fa, che pochi fanno… È una persona umile e mi ha aiutato molto in questo inizio alla Roma. Mi piace come giocatore e come persona. Sono grato di poter giocare al suo fianco." Mora's immediate priority is scoring at the Olimpico. "Voglio ancora segnare allo Stadio Olimpico," he stated. "È speciale e non vedo l'ora di segnare allo Stadio Olimpico. L'atmosfera allo Stadio Olimpico è qualcosa di davvero speciale e bellissimo e ti fa venire voglia di giocare e segnare per la Roma." Looking ahead, Mora said: "Ora voglio fare una buona stagione alla Roma. Ho fatto il mio debutto in Champions League, è stato un passo importante. Spero di vincere titoli alla Roma e di giocare il miglior calcio possibile. Siamo in una buona fase, ma è un campionato molto competitivo. Siamo sulla strada giusta." He has been called up twice by Portugal but suffered injuries during both convocations.