Roma's transfer window has closed without securing a left-sided forward despite summer pursuit, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini could still recruit from the free-agent pool. Under UEFA rules, players with contracts ending by 30 June can be registered in Italy until 31 March 2027, though Roma face a midnight deadline today (2 September) to submit their Champions League squad list for the league phase. The club is weighing four possibilities, each carrying distinct advantages and risks.
Jadon Sancho, 26, tops the list as the most surprising candidate. The English winger remains free after a year in which Gasperini had him near the top of his wishlist; Roma pursued him heavily through the summer before the move stalled. Sancho's credentials are strong — he possesses one-on-one quality, can operate from both flanks, and offers the dribbling Roma lacks. Yet his recent career has been marked by instability. In 2022 he was removed from Manchester United's squad for months while manager Erik ten Hag spoke publicly of issues "physical but also mental"; Sancho had suffered deeply following racial abuse after missing a penalty in Euro 2020. His clash with Ten Hag escalated when the manager excluded him over training standards. Sancho responded publicly that he had been made a "scapegoat" and refused to apologise, leading to months of separation from the first team. The paradox is acute: a year ago he seemed essential to Gasperini's Roma; today he is available on a free transfer yet no club has moved decisively.
Raheem Sterling, 31, matches Roma's attacking profile more closely — rapid, capable of striking the run, and able to play on either wing. His peak at Manchester City saw him convert recoveries into chances within seconds. Yet Sterling requires relaunching after Premier League decline and a brief, unsuccessful spell at Feyenoord. Additionally, he faces a legal issue in England: he has been formally accused of dangerous driving and possessing nitrous oxide and must appear in court in September. Wilfried Zaha, 33, offers less glamour but technical appeal. The right-footed winger, liberated by Galatasaray's contract end, has maintained fitness at Crystal Palace facilities. He possesses physicality, dribbling, acceleration and directness — qualities Gasperini values — and scored 13 goals with 14 assists in 46 appearances for Charlotte in MLS. Yet at 33, he has drifted from elite European football; neither Galatasaray nor Lyon could keep him after his Crystal Palace exit. The doubt centres on whether he can sustain the intensity, pressing and continuity Gasperini demands.
Stephan El Shaarawy rounds the options. The 33-year-old remains free after ending his long Roma career and knows Trigoria completely, requiring no adaptation. He played 20 times last season with one goal and two assists. The difficulty is blunt: if Roma chose months ago not to extend his contract, why bring him back? He would broaden the squad but would not solve Gasperini's search for an explosive, powerful new winger capable of winning matches outright.
Story Coverage2 sources on this story
Roma's search for a left-sided forward remains unresolved as the summer transfer window closes, forcing the club to explore free agents as an alternative. Both outlets confirm that head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had pursued several targets throughout the window—including Summerville, Greenwood and Nusa—without success, leaving the attacking unit short of the explosive winger the club sought. Under UEFA regulations, Roma face a midnight deadline today to submit their Champions League squad list, though players with contracts ending by 30 June can still be registered in Italy until 31 March 2027, offering a potential pathway for late recruitment.
Jadon Sancho, 26, tops the list of free-agent candidates. The English winger has remained without a club after reports of a move to Palmeiras proved false, and while he rejected Roma's approach last year, the outlets differ on whether circumstances have shifted. GialloRossi.net emphasises his instability—including a high-profile clash with Erik ten Hag at Manchester United over training standards and his removal from the squad for months following racial abuse after Euro 2020—alongside questions about his recent career trajectory. Forza Roma reports his wage demands at approximately €6 million annually present a significant obstacle, while his market value stands at €18 million. Both outlets note concerns over his fitness after training alone and missing preseason preparation with any club.
Other candidates divide the outlets' focus. GialloRossi.net emphasises Raheem Sterling, 31, and Wilfried Zaha, 33, as substantial options, though Sterling faces legal complications in England regarding dangerous driving charges and possession of nitrous oxide. Stephan El Shaarawy, 33, Roma's former player, also appears, though both question why the club would reverse its decision not to extend him. Forza Roma casts a wider net, naming additional targets including Raphaël Guerreiro, newly available from Bayern Munich and potentially offering an ideal left-sided solution, alongside Ryan Kent, Reiss Nelson, Fábio Martins, Naïm Sliti and others. D'Amico confirmed evaluation would continue later, signalling Roma may remain without their targeted addition until January.
AI synthesis of all sources below — always check the originals.
Testo Originale / Source Text
“Il mercato ha chiuso i battenti, ma per la Roma potrebbe non essere necessariamente finita qui. La squadra di Gian Piero Gasperini è rimasta senza quell’esterno offensivo sinistro inseguito per tutta l’estate e il mercato degli svincolati offre ancora qualche nome interessante. Nessun cartellino da…”
Read the full article in Italian at GialloRossi.net.
