Roma close in on Gollini and Hermoso renewals as Dybala and Pellegrini futures stay open

Roma scouts were among those watching Genoa teenager Samuel Wiafe at the Stadio Ferraris on Sunday afternoon, as the club considers strengthening its midfield in the coming months. Leonardo Bonucci and scouts from several Serie A big clubs were also in the stands for the match between Genoa and Venezia, but Juventus and Roma were the two sides most closely interested in the 2008-born midfielder. The interest from both clubs is reported by Tuttosport. Juventus had previously tracked Wiafe, with the idea of bringing him to the Continassa to develop him in the Next Gen before a possible step up to the senior side. However, the midfielder, who had impressed in Serie B while still a minor, was not willing to accept that path. In the last summer transfer window he chose Genoa instead. The Rossoblu took him from Modena for 2.5 million plus bonuses, seeing off competition from the bigger clubs. In recent weeks Wiafe has established himself in the Genoa side under Daniele De Rossi, who has made him a starter in the matches against Roma and Venezia. De Rossi, a man who knows a thing or two about midfielders, has given the young player his opportunity at the heart of the team.

Roma have confirmed new contracts for Emanuele Lulli and Giorgio De Marzi, both of whom have signed with the Giallorossi until 2031. Both were due to expire at the end of the season and have been retained. Four more players have contracts running out in June: Gollini, Hermoso, Pellegrini and Dybala, according to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo. A deal for goalkeeper Gollini was already close in the summer for another season, and talks are moving in that direction. Positive signs also surround Hermoso, the defender for whom an option for one additional year was activated in the spring. Initial contacts have taken place, and Gasperini has never hidden his high regard for the Spaniard, who has returned to excellent form under the Piedmontese coach. The situation is different for Dybala and Pellegrini. The club has opted for a one-year renewal for both players, allowing Roma to assess their form on the pitch before confirming them. The feeling is that a decision may only come deep into 2027, when the picture regarding both players' appearances will be clearer.

Roma are reportedly looking to add another attacking player in the winter transfer window, with Endrick at the top of their list, according to TMW. Sporting director D'Amico continues to work on a move for the Brazilian from Real Madrid, but Mourinho has no intention of letting him go. Roma's focus, however, is currently on the pitch under Gasperini as the club goes through one of the most intense spells of the season. As an alternative, Roma are considering Kvernadze, a 2003-born forward at Frosinone who has scored 5 goals across Serie A and the Coppa Italia so far. Frosinone value the player highly, and convincing president Stirpe could require between 20 and 25 million euros. Foreign profiles including Gomes, Leweling and Gittens also remain in the running. In the meantime, the club's attention is rightly turned to Cagliari.

Pierluigi Gollini will start again tonight against Cagliari, keeping goal for Roma while Mile Svilar prepares to come back. Gollini has kept two clean sheets in Serie A, with Como and Genoa, and one in the Champions League against Slovan Bratislava. Against Real Madrid and Napoli, however, he conceded seven goals in total. Against Napoli he was decisive on Politano and Olivera, but was unsure on McTominay's third goal. The numbers nonetheless hold up. Among goalkeepers with at least three appearances, Gollini has a save percentage of 77%, the same as Milan's Maignan. Only Caprile (78%), Svilar (81%) and Mandas (86%) rank ahead of him. He will also start on Saturday against Udinese. Svilar is ready to return. He will have an MRI scan in Belgium on Thursday before heading back to Rome. The aim is to have him available for the Champions League trip to Manchester or for the match against Sassuolo on the final day before the international break. Svilar is eager to get back, but for now Roma's goal is in safe hands.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma have confirmed new contracts for Emanuele Lulli and Giorgio De Marzi, both of whom have signed with the Giallorossi until 2031. Both were due to expire at the end of the season and have been retained. Four more players have contracts running out in June: Gollini, Hermoso, Pellegrini and Dybala, according to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo. A deal for goalkeeper Gollini was already close in the summer for another season, and talks are moving in that direction. Positive signs also surround Hermoso, the defender for whom an option for one additional year was activated in the spring. Initial contacts have taken place, and Gasperini has never hidden his high regard for the Spaniard, who has returned to excellent form under the Piedmontese coach. The situation is different for Dybala and Pellegrini. The club has opted for a one-year renewal for both players, allowing Roma to assess their form on the pitch before confirming them. The feeling is that a decision may only come deep into 2027, when the picture regarding both players' appearances will be clearer.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma have confirmed new contracts for Emanuele Lulli and Giorgio De Marzi, both of whom have signed with the Giallorossi until 2031. Both were due to expire at the end of the season and have been retained. Four more players have contracts running out in June: Gollini, Hermoso, Pellegrini and Dybala, according to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo. A deal for goalkeeper Gollini was already close in the summer for another season, and talks are moving in that direction. Positive signs also surround Hermoso, the defender for whom an option for one additional year was activated in the spring. Initial contacts have taken place, and Gasperini has never hidden his high regard for the Spaniard, who has returned to excellent form under the Piedmontese coach. The situation is different for Dybala and Pellegrini. The club has opted for a one-year renewal for both players, allowing Roma to assess their form on the pitch before confirming them. The feeling is that a decision may only come deep into 2027, when the picture regarding both players' appearances will be clearer.

Leonardo Balerdi was the standout figure in Roma's 3-3 draw against Napoli, scoring a brace after coming on in the second half for Mario Hermoso. The goals were the first of his career with Roma. Before the match at the Maradona, the Argentine defender had received two paintings in the style of The Simpsons from artist Stefano Monda: one showing him and his girlfriend in Roma colours, the other showing his whole family. Balerdi returned the gesture with a signed shirt, and the gift brought him luck on the night. The performance underlines how Balerdi is carving out a place in the side and earning the trust of the coaching staff. His double came at a difficult venue and helped Roma secure a point from a match that swung back and forth. Monda's artwork and the shirt exchange made for a light-hearted pre-match story, but it was Balerdi's second-half impact that dominated the afternoon. The video of the paintings and the goals has been shared widely by fans.

Roma return to action tonight at the Stadio Olimpico against Cagliari, aiming to get back to winning ways after a draw with Napoli. Paulo Dybala is back in the squad but will start on the bench. Matías Soulé, Mora and Donyell Malen are expected up front, with Lulli on the right side of the defence. On the left, Nahuel Molina and Wesley are in a head-to-head battle for a starting place. Mario Hermoso and Marten de Roon are rested. The predicted line-ups in the Roman press largely agree on a 3-4-2-1 shape. Gollini starts in goal, with Ghilardi, Evan N'Dicka and Leonardo Balerdi in the back three, and Cristante and Pisilli in central midfield. Il Messaggero, Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo all pick Gianluca Mancini in place of Ghilardi and Wesley in place of Molina. Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo both switch to a 3-4-1-2, with Mora and Soulé behind Malen. Leggo is the outlier, placing Hermoso in the back three alongside Ghilardi and Balerdi. The lineups show how much rotation Roma are considering for the Cagliari match, with several first-choice players either on the bench or resting. Balerdi appears in every projected starting eleven, and Malen leads the attack in all six predictions. Dybala's role as a substitute will be the main talking point for fans if he is not called into the starting line-up.

Roma have confirmed new contracts for Emanuele Lulli and Giorgio De Marzi, both of whom have signed with the Giallorossi until 2031. Both were due to expire at the end of the season and have been retained. Four more players have contracts running out in June: Gollini, Hermoso, Pellegrini and Dybala, according to Lorenzo Pes writing in Il Tempo. A deal for goalkeeper Gollini was already close in the summer for another season, and talks are moving in that direction. Positive signs also surround Hermoso, the defender for whom an option for one additional year was activated in the spring. Initial contacts have taken place, and Gasperini has never hidden his high regard for the Spaniard, who has returned to excellent form under the Piedmontese coach. The situation is different for Dybala and Pellegrini. The club has opted for a one-year renewal for both players, allowing Roma to assess their form on the pitch before confirming them. The feeling is that a decision may only come deep into 2027, when the picture regarding both players' appearances will be clearer.

Roma head into tonight's home match against Cagliari at the Stadio Olimpico, kicking off at 20:45, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini looking to return to winning ways after a draw at Napoli and to avoid losing ground in the race for the top positions. The Giallorossi have a run of fixtures that, on paper, offers a chance to build momentum: Cagliari tonight, then Udinese away and Sassuolo before the November international break. The challenge is balancing the need for points with the need to manage energy levels. The recent schedule of demanding clashes has left physical and mental fatigue, and Gasperini knows he cannot keep asking the same players for extra effort. The Champions League meeting with Manchester United, which falls between the trip to Udine and the Sassuolo match, adds to the pressure. Despite absences that continue to limit his options, Gasperini is considering a significant turnover. He admitted at yesterday's press conference that some changes are likely, stressing the need to use a squad now able to provide rotation. One of the most likely changes involves Emanuele Lulli, who is set to return to the starting line-up on the right flank just after officially renewing his contract until 2031. He could replace Wesley, one of the most used players so far this season, with Molina a candidate to occupy the left side. In defence, Leonardo Balerdi, who scored a brace at the Maradona, is pushing for a starting place. Daniele Ghilardi could also start in place of Gianluca Mancini. Rodrigo Mora is among the main candidates to start, with Bryan Cristante possibly dropping into midfield to add quality in the final third. The most notable surprise could come up front. According to reports in the press, including Il Messaggero, Gasperini is considering giving Donyell Malen a rest, with Santiago Castro leading the attack. The move is far from certain, as the Dutchman remains the team's main offensive reference and the favourite to start. However, the idea of preserving him for the upcoming fixtures is one of the options on the table, a sign that the coach wants to genuinely widen his rotation. The watchword remains to win. Cagliari, coached by Pisacane, are going through a difficult period, but matches like this one hide dangers for a side coming off many close fixtures. Gasperini must find fresh energy without lowering the level of competitiveness, and needs important responses from those who have had less playing time so far. Roma cannot afford slip-ups at a point in the season when the calendar offers a valuable opportunity: winning consecutive matches before the break and arriving at the next big clashes with an even stronger league position. The turnover is necessary, but the three points are even more so.