Pellegrini contract renewal edges closer after club revises terms

Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 22-man squad for Roma's trip to Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00 at the Bluenergy Stadium, in Serie A matchday 10. Paulo Dybala will miss the match, as the coach had already indicated, while young players Di Nunzio and Camara are included. The goalkeepers are Vasquez, De Marzi and Gollini. The defenders are Rensch, Koulierakis, Ndicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli and Ghilardi. The midfielders are Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio and Mora, and the forwards are Castro, Malen, Soulé and Camara. The kit colours have also been confirmed. Roma will play in their traditional red first shirt, while the goalkeeper will wear yellow. The Giallorossi players on the bench will wear blue bibs. The match in Friuli is Roma's last league fixture before the European trip against Manchester United, scheduled for 3 November. Former Roma and Udinese midfielder Stefano Desideri spoke to Romanews on the eve of the match, analysing Roma's current form and their prospects for the rest of the season. Desideri does not fully share the criticism linked to fatigue after the win over Cagliari. He said: "With all the rotations and the adjustments, Roma have held up more than well," recalling the many closely spaced matches and injuries. He also praised Cristante, whom he considers "more and more of a leader" and a reference point for the younger players, and De Roon, whose impact he described as "impressive". In the table, Desideri places Roma and Inter ahead of their rivals, while acknowledging the surprising results of Lazio and the work of Como, who could remain at a high level until the end. On Udinese, he admits he did not expect such a difficult start: "They must pull themselves out by any means" to avoid getting drawn into the relegation battle. Looking ahead to the winter window, Desideri said he does not expect big deals: "I don't believe much in it." Nonetheless, he feels Gasperini's side could need "another midfielder" and "a winger", provided there are concrete and convenient opportunities. Roma are also weighing possible reinforcements for the winter window. Among the names linked with the club is Lisandro Martínez, the Argentine defender at Manchester United, whose contract expires on 30 June. According to the Spanish newspaper AS, Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have set their sights on the player. In Italy, Inter and Como are reportedly also evaluating the centre-back's profile, alongside Roma, to strengthen their defensive department.

Milan and Juventus have reportedly placed Daniele Ghilardi on their radar, according to Tuttomercatoweb. The Roma defender has attracted interest from both clubs despite playing only a few minutes in recent matches. Ghilardi has been decisive in recent games, helping Roma pick up important points in the league table. His performances have drawn the attention of several clubs, with Milan and Juventus among those monitoring him. Milan are reportedly in search of a central defender ahead of the January transfer window. The report comes from Tuttomercatoweb, which named Milan and Juventus as the clubs that have looked at the Roma player.

Roma have made contact with Real Madrid over a possible move for Endrick, according to Retesport. The day after the Champions League match between Roma and Real Madrid on Thursday 15 October, Gian Piero Gasperini met Real Madrid's management in a direct meeting, accompanied by Roma's transfer staff. No intermediaries were involved. The club and the coach are determined to push for the 2006-born forward. The deal is not straightforward. Mourinho has said he does not want Endrick to leave Madrid. Even so, Roma are ready to move quickly should any opening appear. Gasperini reportedly believes Endrick could play in any attacking position, and his qualities are appreciated by the coach. Roma lost 3-4 to Real Madrid after conceding late goals, and a large part of that turnaround is linked to Endrick's introduction, as he changed the match and scored a goal. The article suggests he may not be the only one to visit the Stadio Olimpico, and that his next move could be in Roma's yellow and red.

Roma travel to the Bluenergy Stadium to face Udinese on Saturday 31 October at 18:00, in Serie A matchday 10. Gian Piero Gasperini's side arrive after a 4-2 win over Cagliari that moved them into third place with 21 points. Udinese, coached by Kosta Runjaic, ended a run of six consecutive defeats with a 0-0 draw at Parma, but have not scored in three matches and have collected just five points from their first nine games. Runiajc has confirmed the absences of Solet, Bayo, Zanoli and Alaba. Okoye is expected in goal, with Abankwah, Kabasele and Palma in the back three and Vojvoda and Kamara on the flanks. Karlstrom is set to anchor midfield alongside either Zarraga or Piotrowski, while Zaniolo and Ekkelenkamp support Davis up front. Bertola has recovered from injury. Gueye is also unavailable for the hosts. Roma are without Svilar, Koné, Pellegrini and Dybala, who has not been included in the squad. Gollini keeps his place in goal. Gasperini is expected to rotate heavily in defence, with Ghilardi, Balerdi and Hermoso favoured, while Mancini and N'Dicka are initially set to rest. Lulli and Wesley will operate on the flanks, with Cristante and Pisilli in midfield and De Roon given a breather. Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Malen are confirmed up front. Both teams line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation. The match will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN, via the DAZN app on smart TVs, smartphones, tablets, consoles and computers, and on the DAZN 1 channel for satellite subscribers who have activated the option. There is no live coverage on the traditional Sky Sport channels. Kick-off is at 18:00 on Saturday 31 October. Bookmakers make Roma clear favourites. Udinese are priced between 5.50 and 5.70, a draw between 4.20 and 4.50, and a Roma win between 1.52 and 1.57. Market probabilities give Roma around a 60% chance of victory. Bookmakers also expect goals, with Over 2.5 favoured over Under, and Goal offered at a relatively low price. Roma have the second-best attack in the league. The most likely correct score is a 1-2 Roma win, priced around 7.00-7.50, ahead of 1-1, 0-1 and 0-2. The referee is Fabio Maresca of Napoli, with assistants Lo Cicero and Rossi L., Daniele Chiffi as fourth official, Daniele Paterna as VAR and Gianluca Aureliano as AVAR.

Gian Piero Gasperini has named a 23-man squad for Udinese vs Roma, Serie A matchday 10, tomorrow, Saturday 31 October, at 18:00 at the Bluenergy Stadium. Paulo Dybala remains sidelined, while Mile Svilar, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini are also out. There is no change from the Cagliari game. Dybala has not yet fully recovered from calf discomfort. Belgian goalkeeper Mile Svilar will only return after the November international break. Pierluigi Gollini keeps his place in goal, and the young players Di Nunzio and Camara are included in the squad. Hermoso and Balerdi are available again after overcoming recent physical knocks. The full Roma squad is: Goalkeepers: Vásquez, De Marzi, Gollini. Defenders: Rensch, Koulierakis, N'Dicka, Molina, Hermoso, Mancini, Balerdi, Wesley, Lulli, Ghilardi. Midfielders: Cristante, De Roon, Pisilli, Di Nunzio, Mora. Forwards: Castro, Malen, Soulé, Camara.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has drawn up a shopping list as the club looks to strengthen its squad, with three signings reportedly in mind before the international break. Roma face Udinese, Manchester United and Sassuolo as the last three matches of a gruelling run of nine games in 28 days, and they are doing so short of numbers. Svilar, Dybala and Koné will not be available tomorrow, and only the last two are hoping to return from the next fixtures. The squad is stretched thin. Gasperini said earlier in the season: "La rosa va allungata" ("The squad needs to be lengthened"). While awaiting the UEFA ruling expected in November, the sporting director is already working to reinforce the team. Last January, Malen, Vaz, Venturino and Zaragoza arrived at the club. Gasperini would be content with three targeted signings: an attacking winger, a backup for Wesley and a dynamic central midfielder. For the attacking unit, the names linked are Leweling and Gittens. A surprise could be van Bommel of PSV Eindhoven, a player Roma have been monitoring for some time. Roma are also not giving up on Endrick. Real Madrid have little room for the Brazilian, who wants to leave. D'Amico will need to find the right formula, which could resemble the deal that brought Bobby in a year ago: a loan with an obligation to buy on certain conditions. Attention then turns to the wide midfield. Mendes has offered Balde of Barcelona, while the new name is Pascini of Atlético Mineiro. The most pressing problem, however, is midfield. Pellegrini will return in 2027, and Koné has frequent physical problems. Roma need a energetic runner in the centre of the park, and Moses of Slavia Prague is on the notebook.