Roma close to Mora deal as Gasperini targets attacking trio

Rodrigo Mora has completed his move to Roma, becoming the club's fourth signing of the summer. Contracts were signed after midnight, with Mora due in the capital today for medical examinations and formalities. Director Tony D'Amico will immediately turn attention to Lyon's Malick Fofana, one of Europe's most promising young talents alongside Mora. Roma have reached an agreement with Fofana and his representatives over wages; Lyon, however, prefer to wait until the Champions League preliminary rounds are complete before selling. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has approved both targets. Simultaneously, Roma are hunting a further wide midfielder, with Luis Henrique and Udogie under consideration. The priority after Fofana's arrival will be securing additional flanking reinforcements, contingent on deal structure and availability. In a separate development, Fiorentina have enquired about Matías Soulé; Roma are seeking €40 million for the winger.

Robinio Vaz will remain at Roma through the closing of the transfer window, with the club rejecting any sale of the French striker acquired eight months ago from Olympique Marseille for €25 million. A proposed move to Bologna fell through during negotiations involving Castro and Dovbyk. Vaz has used recent friendlies to impress new head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and demonstrate his value to the squad. With the centre-forward role occupied by Malen and Castro, Vaz is being positioned as a creative attacking midfielder, a role that could leverage his distinctive qualities. Gasperini's tactical system offers intriguing prospects for the French talent, who possesses pace and physical strength unmatched by other options in that position—Dybala, Pellegrini, Mora and Soulé. Last season, his intervention proved decisive in a closely fought match against Lecce after an initial adaptation period in Italian football. Vaz suffered a first-degree medial collateral ligament injury to his right knee while training, an injury sustained in unusual circumstances: he explained to the club he was injured while skiing in summer. After overcoming the setback within just over a week, he has recovered fully and is ready to compete for Gasperini's confidence.

Radio commentators Stefano Carina and Roberto Pruzzo have offered their views on Roma's transfer activity and squad composition ahead of the new season. Carina said on Radio Radio: "We hope Mora arrives today, so this telenovela ends. We'll see if the future resale will be 40% or 50%, maybe Roma can extract a lower figure. Mora has value; our doubts are only about his tactical use. Porto wanted to sell the player, beyond the technical judgment. But Roma should have dictated the rules, and it didn't. Fofana for me is the player Gasp asked for, but we need players who score goals. If the left winger arrives, Roma has completed itself, and well." Mora's arrival remains a focal point of discussion as Roma continues its summer business. Carina's reference to resale percentages suggests negotiation over sell-on clauses in any deal, while his assessment centres on whether head coach Gasperini's tactical system will unlock the newcomer's potential. Pruzzo, also on Radio Radio, posed a broader question about integration: "Where will Mora and Castro be used, because Roma has spent the money but will they be useful for Gasperini's game? Roma right now plays for the Champions League." Both analysts emphasise the link between recruitment and tactical implementation—that spending alone is insufficient without clear roles in Gasperini's system.

Roma are closing in on Rodrigo Mora from Porto while simultaneously pursuing Malick Fofana from Lyon, signalling an aggressive push to strengthen Gasperini's attack. The Mora transfer is in its final stages, but the club's real ambition lies in landing the Belgian winger Fofana, with whom Roma have already secured player-side agreement. However, Lyon are reluctant to sell before their Champions League playoff against Fenerbahce, with the first leg taking place this evening and the return fixture next Wednesday. Fofana remains a complex target. After an initial attempt to sign him on loan with a conditional obligation to buy, Roma are now prepared to purchase the attacking winger outright for a fee close to €40 million including bonuses. The financial gap between Roma and Lyon must still be bridged. Beyond these two arrivals, Roma continue to seek a left-sided midfielder to provide depth behind Wesley. Discussions with Torino over Cacciamani have stalled, though Tottenham are beginning to consider a loan-with-option move for Udogie. Luis Henrique remains a background option as Gasperini's search for attacking reinforcement extends across multiple targets.

Roma's summer transfer work is far from over, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini signalling his appetite for further additions beyond the arrivals of Castro, Koulierakis and Molina. While the Mora move may defer heavier spending to next summer, the club retains capacity to pursue further signings aligned with Gasperini's tactical requirements, notably Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais. The 21-year-old Belgian attacker remains an active target, with Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca having cleared his departure and the club engaged in talks with Roma. Fofana is valued at 35–40 million euros overall, with his existing salary of approximately 2 million euros fitting Roma's parameters. Gasperini currently has two—and occasionally three—options for most positions, but a significant shortage exists at left-back, where Wesley stands alone. Though Devyne Rensch could theoretically deputise, that scenario is presently ruled out, prompting continued pursuit of alternatives from Tottenham (Udogie), Inter (Luis Henrique) and Torino (Cacciamani). The squad's forward depth across Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, combined with Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz—currently viewed as a late-game option pending development—means the Mora signing does not close the conversation on attacking reinforcements.

Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field two South American wingers of international standard against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on Monday evening. Argentinian right-back Nahuel Molina, who arrived in the capital eight days ago following his World Cup involvement, is set to return to Serie A action after impressing in a pre-season test against Borussia Dortmund. Brazilian winger Wesley will also feature, though he has spent recent days managing a minor ankle sprain and remains a precaution away from full availability; Devyne Rensch stands ready as cover if needed. The match offers Gasperini an early opportunity to showcase Roma's attacking threat with pace and rhythm from both flanks. Molina's introduction and Wesley's return to full training form part of the squad's preparations for the new campaign, with both players carrying significant pedigree from their national teams. In attack, a selection battle continues between Castro and Donyell Malen for a starting berth, while midfielder Niccolò Pisilli remains uncertain for the fixture.

Roma's summer transfer work is far from over, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini signalling his appetite for further additions beyond the arrivals of Castro, Koulierakis and Molina. While the Mora move may defer heavier spending to next summer, the club retains capacity to pursue further signings aligned with Gasperini's tactical requirements, notably Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais. The 21-year-old Belgian attacker remains an active target, with Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca having cleared his departure and the club engaged in talks with Roma. Fofana is valued at 35–40 million euros overall, with his existing salary of approximately 2 million euros fitting Roma's parameters. Gasperini currently has two—and occasionally three—options for most positions, but a significant shortage exists at left-back, where Wesley stands alone. Though Devyne Rensch could theoretically deputise, that scenario is presently ruled out, prompting continued pursuit of alternatives from Tottenham (Udogie), Inter (Luis Henrique) and Torino (Cacciamani). The squad's forward depth across Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, combined with Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz—currently viewed as a late-game option pending development—means the Mora signing does not close the conversation on attacking reinforcements.

Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field two South American wingers of international standard against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on Monday evening. Argentinian right-back Nahuel Molina, who arrived in the capital eight days ago following his World Cup involvement, is set to return to Serie A action after impressing in a pre-season test against Borussia Dortmund. Brazilian winger Wesley will also feature, though he has spent recent days managing a minor ankle sprain and remains a precaution away from full availability; Devyne Rensch stands ready as cover if needed. The match offers Gasperini an early opportunity to showcase Roma's attacking threat with pace and rhythm from both flanks. Molina's introduction and Wesley's return to full training form part of the squad's preparations for the new campaign, with both players carrying significant pedigree from their national teams. In attack, a selection battle continues between Castro and Donyell Malen for a starting berth, while midfielder Niccolò Pisilli remains uncertain for the fixture.

Roma are preparing to shift focus to the left flank after the imminent completion of the Mora deal, with sporting director D'Amico seeking to bolster the lateral options available to Gasperini. Currently, Rensch and Wesley are the only out-and-out wide players in that position. Cacciamani and Udogie remain the preferred targets, but Luis Henrique, the Inter winger, has also entered contention. The Brazilian, despite being right-footed, could serve Gasperini as a versatile option capable of operating behind the front line. According to reports, Luis Henrique has already approved a move to Roma and is now the leading candidate following the closure of discussions around the Portuguese class of 2007 player. Fresh talks are planned with Torino over Cacciamani, whose club are holding out for €20 million, while D'Amico is targeting €15 million including bonuses. Udogie represents an alternative, with any deal hinged on a loan with an obligation to buy, and Luis Henrique would serve as a further option should negotiations with Torino break down.

Gian Piero Gasperini plans to field two South American wingers of international standard against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on Monday evening. Argentinian right-back Nahuel Molina, who arrived in the capital eight days ago following his World Cup involvement, is set to return to Serie A action after impressing in a pre-season test against Borussia Dortmund. Brazilian winger Wesley will also feature, though he has spent recent days managing a minor ankle sprain and remains a precaution away from full availability; Devyne Rensch stands ready as cover if needed. The match offers Gasperini an early opportunity to showcase Roma's attacking threat with pace and rhythm from both flanks. Molina's introduction and Wesley's return to full training form part of the squad's preparations for the new campaign, with both players carrying significant pedigree from their national teams. In attack, a selection battle continues between Castro and Donyell Malen for a starting berth, while midfielder Niccolò Pisilli remains uncertain for the fixture.

Roma have made concrete progress on multiple fronts in their pursuit of new players. The club have agreed terms with Porto for Rodrigo Mora on a deal worth €25 million plus 50% of any future sale, with Roma holding the option to cancel that sell-on clause by paying Porto the remaining 50% next year. Porto's final approval is awaited to allow Mora to complete his move to the capital. In parallel, Roma have opened negotiations with Lyon over winger Malick Fofana, who has signalled his willingness to join the club in yellow and red. Lyon have provided Roma with all the operational details of a potential transfer, though the French side are pushing to keep Fofana for their Champions League commitments. Notably, Fofana's agents represent Luis Henrique, another player Roma have monitored in recent weeks. The decision on whether to pursue the Belgian talent now rests with Roma, though the club harbour an ambitious goal: to bring both Mora and Fofana to Rome and then add a further winger to complete the attacking department. With a week remaining until Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is monitoring the fitness of Wesley and Niccolò Pisilli, both sidelined following a friendly against Borussia Dortmund on 15 August. Wesley continues to experience ankle trouble and will be assessed on the resumption of training at Trigoria, as will Pisilli. Confidence is filtering through that both will be available for the first match of the season.

Former Roma defender Vincent Candela has paid tribute to late president Franco Sensi, recalling their strong relationship during his time at the club. Speaking on Radio Romanista, Candela expressed gratitude to Sensi for bringing him to Rome and helping him grow as a man and father. He described Sensi as deeply passionate about Roma, noting his ambitious signings such as Gabriel Batistuta and saying: "The time passes quickly, but what he did for Roma is enormous. He bought Batistuta, he spent a lot of money…! Roma was his passion." Candela also reflected on Roma's current campaign under Gasperini following their return to the Champions League after seven years. He backed the club to strengthen further before the transfer window closes on 31 August, saying: "The squad was already strong and that is important; if two more elements arrive it is perfect. We need to be more competitive." Candela highlighted the importance of the upcoming season, particularly given Roma's centenary anniversary, and stressed that the squad is compact and unified heading into what he believes will be a significant year. On midfielder Manu Koné, Candela noted that while he was already strong when he arrived, Gasperini has improved him. He suggested Koné can develop further in his final pass and shooting, though he acknowledged the midfielder's defensive strengths, saying he "recovers the ball well" and "is secure with Pisilli and Cristante." Candela added that Roma has multiple attacking options available and that Gasperini's tactical approach may differ from that used at international level.