Roma close Balerdi deal as defence strengthens in final market days

Franck Kessié remains without a club after failing to reach a full agreement with Juventus. The 1996-born Ivorian midfielder is also of interest to Roma, though the club must first offload Neil El Aynaoui before making a move for him. El Aynaoui, the Moroccan midfielder, is on the market but has attracted only loan offers so far from Crystal Palace and German clubs. Should Roma sell El Aynaoui permanently, they could pursue Kessié, though the operation would not be straightforward given the salary demands, signing bonus, and agent commissions involved. Both Juventus and Roma face the same financial obstacles in the Kessié saga. According to Corriere della Sera, the deal itself would be prohibitively expensive due to the costs involved. Roma's interest therefore hinges entirely on freeing up resources through an El Aynaoui departure.

Roma's primary transfer priority with three days left in the summer window remains a left-sided winger, a position head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has requested for two years. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is targeting a swift conclusion, with two candidates in play: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Malick Fofana. Chelsea remains unwilling to loan out Gittens despite his peripheral status at the club, though Roma would be ready to move quickly if the Blues change their stance in the coming hours. The Fofana option remains on standby, with the Lyon winger hoping to complete a transfer after an agreement with Roma was reached roughly two weeks ago. Defensive moves are nearing completion, with Jan Ziółkowski departing to Monza and a new centre-back arriving, freeing resources for the attacking reinforcement. Fofana, the Belgian winger currently at Lyon, is waiting for the club to provide direction to his representatives. Lyon, who failed to qualify for the Champions League, are under pressure to sell and have been asked to lower their asking price. The class of 2005 is unlikely to move to Hull City, though other English clubs remain interested. Market expert Fabrizio Romano outlined both possibilities in a recent YouTube video. Roma have made contact with Fofana's camp and an agreement on personal terms has been struck, but the final sticking point is Lyon's valuation. The window closes in three days, making the next 48 hours critical for either deal to progress.

Roma have secured the arrival of Argentine defender Balerdi on a loan deal with a conditional right of redemption tied to appearances, worth approximately €20 million in total. The transfer was accelerated by sporting director D'Amico in recent hours as the club continues to reshape its defence ahead of the summer window's closure in three days. Simultaneously, Jan Ziółkowski departed on a season-long loan to Monza, also with a redemption clause fixed at €18 million. Gasperini's squad continues to prioritise reinforcements in defence while keeping attention on the left-sided attacking position. The club may defer investment on the wing until January, given the development of Emanuele Lulli and the pressing need to strengthen the forward line. Roma maintain strong pressure on Chelsea to secure winger Gittens on a loan transfer, with the two clubs in continuous contact to finalise the deal. An alternative target, Fofana, is also under consideration following Lyon's elimination from the Champions League, though the French club's asking price remains substantial and they require immediate payment. Balerdi's move is a loan arrangement with the redemption option conditioned by the number of appearances the defender makes. The clubs are in constant communication to settle all terms of the operation. The article was reported by Lorenzo Pes for Il Tempo.

Roma's primary transfer priority with three days left in the summer window remains a left-sided winger, a position head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has requested for two years. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is targeting a swift conclusion, with two candidates in play: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Malick Fofana. Chelsea remains unwilling to loan out Gittens despite his peripheral status at the club, though Roma would be ready to move quickly if the Blues change their stance in the coming hours. The Fofana option remains on standby, with the Lyon winger hoping to complete a transfer after an agreement with Roma was reached roughly two weeks ago. Defensive moves are nearing completion, with Jan Ziółkowski departing to Monza and a new centre-back arriving, freeing resources for the attacking reinforcement. Fofana, the Belgian winger currently at Lyon, is waiting for the club to provide direction to his representatives. Lyon, who failed to qualify for the Champions League, are under pressure to sell and have been asked to lower their asking price. The class of 2005 is unlikely to move to Hull City, though other English clubs remain interested. Market expert Fabrizio Romano outlined both possibilities in a recent YouTube video. Roma have made contact with Fofana's camp and an agreement on personal terms has been struck, but the final sticking point is Lyon's valuation. The window closes in three days, making the next 48 hours critical for either deal to progress.

Roma have secured the arrival of Argentine defender Balerdi on a loan deal with a conditional right of redemption tied to appearances, worth approximately €20 million in total. The transfer was accelerated by sporting director D'Amico in recent hours as the club continues to reshape its defence ahead of the summer window's closure in three days. Simultaneously, Jan Ziółkowski departed on a season-long loan to Monza, also with a redemption clause fixed at €18 million. Gasperini's squad continues to prioritise reinforcements in defence while keeping attention on the left-sided attacking position. The club may defer investment on the wing until January, given the development of Emanuele Lulli and the pressing need to strengthen the forward line. Roma maintain strong pressure on Chelsea to secure winger Gittens on a loan transfer, with the two clubs in continuous contact to finalise the deal. An alternative target, Fofana, is also under consideration following Lyon's elimination from the Champions League, though the French club's asking price remains substantial and they require immediate payment. Balerdi's move is a loan arrangement with the redemption option conditioned by the number of appearances the defender makes. The clubs are in constant communication to settle all terms of the operation. The article was reported by Lorenzo Pes for Il Tempo.

Roma have shifted their defensive focus and are close to signing Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille as a replacement for Jan Ziółkowski. The Argentine centre-back will join on a paid loan of €1 million with a right of purchase that becomes an obligation once a set number of appearances is reached. Balerdi is an aggressive defender suited to operating in a three-man defence, strong in pressing and building from the back. Director Tony D'Amico and coach Gian Piero Gasperini are familiar with the 24-year-old; both considered him during summer 2024 at Atalanta after facing him in a Europa League semi-final, though that move fell through when Marseille's asking price was too high. Ziółkowski is being loaned out to Monza with a purchase option set at €18 million. The club will now shift their transfer focus entirely to recruiting an offensive left-winger, with Gittens top of their wish list and Fofana remaining in contention for the position.

Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen produced a devastating partnership in Roma's opening league match against Fiorentina, with the Argentine setting up three assists for three goals from the Dutch forward. The duo combines quality, creativity, strength and a sharp finishing instinct—and both are now ready to operate on Europe's biggest stage as Roma begin their Champions League campaign. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini's emphasis on attacking football and deploying five or six forwards per match may have been shaped by his time leading Atalanta in the Champions League. To compete with Europe's elite and maintain a title challenge in Serie A, Roma must prioritize attacking play and field players capable of both scoring and creating goals. Last season Roma struggled to achieve this, partly due to underperformance from existing squad members; this season Gasperini has been explicit about his demands. While Roma's attack may not match the firepower of PSG or Real Madrid, Dybala and Malen elevate the club to parity with most other Champions League opponents. Matías Soulé offers further depth in attack, though he lacks experience in Europe's premier competition. Gasperini's rivals have invested heavily: Real Madrid continues to spend lavishly on forwards, while PSG has recruited Ferran Torres to join their established attacking arsenal. Manchester United also defends competently. Most other Roma opponents sit at or below Roma's level. A match against Fenerbahçe will pose a different challenge. If Gasperini acquires one more forward, Roma will have the championship-calibre attacking partnerships to compete across all competitions.

Gian Piero Gasperini's offensive philosophy, honed during his time managing Atalanta in the Champions League, is shaping Roma's approach to European competition this season. The coach has made clear that Roma's attack will not match the firepower of PSG and Real Madrid, but intends to compete effectively against the other sides in the competition. Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala are at the required standard and elevate Roma's level, forming a front line capable of standing alongside Europe's strongest. Roma have been building their attacking threat for two years, though last season saw a failure driven chiefly by the underperformance of players already in the squad. This season Gasperini has been explicit about his demands. Matías Soulé adds depth to the attacking pool, though he lacks experience in a major European competition; he possesses the numbers and quality required at this level. The European landscape features Real Madrid continuing heavy investment in attack, while PSG has assembled proven attacking talent including Ferran Torres, and Manchester United defends solidly. The rest of Roma's Champions League opponents sit at or below the Giallorossi's level. According to analysis by Alessandro Angeloni in Il Messaggero, Gasperini's tactical imprint reflects a continuous pursuit of goals and attacking play to compete with Europe's strongest. The upcoming fixture against Fenerbahçe will offer a different challenge. Should Gasperini secure an additional attacking player, Roma would possess the championship-winning attacking pairings needed to compete across all fronts.

Leonardo Balerdi, the Argentine centre-back from Olympique Marseille, is poised to complete his move to Roma, with the transfer expected to be finalised today. The club moved decisively to exploit Marseille's financial difficulties, which forced the Ligue 1 side to sell due to financial fair play restrictions. Balerdi will arrive on a loan deal worth approximately €2 million with a conditional right of redemption tied to his appearances, valued at around €15 million. The 28-year-old holds both Argentine and Italian citizenship, meaning he will not occupy a non-EU squad slot. His contract with Marseille runs until 2031. The signing addresses Roma's defensive needs following the departure of Jan Ziółkowski to Monza. Balerdi's arrival will further bolster Roma's Argentine contingent to five players—joining Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, Nahuel Molina, and Santiago Castro. The tango colony at Trigoria represents the largest cohesive foreign group in the club's history, according to reports. The centre-back is expected to arrive in Rome today to undergo medical examinations at the Campus Biomedico before beginning training. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is bringing in a defender with proven personality and commitment to regular first-team football. The left-sided attacking midfielder remains the priority in the transfer market, though that signing may not materialise until late in the current window.

Leonardo Balerdi is expected to arrive at Roma on 29 August for medical tests and to sign his contract, completing director D'Amico's moves in defence. The Argentine centre-back, who has spent six years at Marseille after rising through Boca Juniors, joins on an expensive loan of 1 million euros with a right of redemption set at approximately 20 million euros that converts to an obligation after a certain number of appearances. Balerdi numerically replaces Jan Ziółkowski, who moves to Monza on loan with a 18 million euro right of redemption. Roma's primary focus now shifts to the left wing attack, with two names leading the shortlist: Gittens and Fofana, in that order of preference, according to reporting from Il Messaggero. Gittens is described as the ideal profile, physically strong and comparable to Lookman, but Chelsea continues to resist a loan move despite the player being outside Xabi Alonso's plans. The Fofana path is complicated by obstacles: Lyon must sell but demands a permanent transfer, and despite D'Amico reaching agreement with Lyon on a 30 million euro base plus 3 million in bonuses, the club's ownership has not yet given approval to complete the deal. A surprise purchase cannot be ruled out. In midfield, Roma will likely retain Wesley, Rensch, Lulli and Molina unless an unexpected development occurs. Should El Aynaoui depart—only on a permanent basis—Kessié has emerged as a target. Robinio Vaz is described as close to a move to Hull City.

Leonardo Balerdi, the Argentine centre-back from Olympique Marseille, is poised to complete his move to Roma, with the transfer expected to be finalised today. The club moved decisively to exploit Marseille's financial difficulties, which forced the Ligue 1 side to sell due to financial fair play restrictions. Balerdi will arrive on a loan deal worth approximately €2 million with a conditional right of redemption tied to his appearances, valued at around €15 million. The 28-year-old holds both Argentine and Italian citizenship, meaning he will not occupy a non-EU squad slot. His contract with Marseille runs until 2031. The signing addresses Roma's defensive needs following the departure of Jan Ziółkowski to Monza. Balerdi's arrival will further bolster Roma's Argentine contingent to five players—joining Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, Nahuel Molina, and Santiago Castro. The tango colony at Trigoria represents the largest cohesive foreign group in the club's history, according to reports. The centre-back is expected to arrive in Rome today to undergo medical examinations at the Campus Biomedico before beginning training. Manager Gian Piero Gasperini is bringing in a defender with proven personality and commitment to regular first-team football. The left-sided attacking midfielder remains the priority in the transfer market, though that signing may not materialise until late in the current window.

Roma prepare for Monday's trip to Lecce with three days to go, with Gian Piero Gasperini having almost the full squad available. Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini are out; Rensch did not train today and will attempt to recover for the Atalanta fixture on 5 September at 20:45. Robinio Vaz also missed training as a precaution, with his move to Hull City on an incoming loan (€2 million with a €30 million purchase option) increasingly likely. Nahuel Molina has recovered fully and will compete with Lulli for the right-wing spot, while Wesley is ready on the opposite flank. The midfield sees a duel between Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé for a trequartista role, with Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala paired up front. Roma seek their second consecutive victory.