Roma eye midfield reinforcement in January, with Hojbjerg a possible target

Roma have repeatedly let leads slip in recent matches, a problem that has exposed the thinness of their squad and led to worrying dips in energy, according to Corriere dello Sport. The most glaring examples came against Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter, while the Giallorossi also dropped points or momentum against Lecce, Torino, Cagliari and Udinese, though they still managed to win those games. The data back up the trend. Roma have taken 20 fewer shots in second halves than in first halves, and their xG, ball recoveries and touches in the opposition box also decline after the interval. Defensively the cost has been clear: they have conceded just 3 goals in the first 45 minutes, 15 after the interval and 9 in the final portion of games. Management is planning to be active in January, La Gazzetta dello Sport reports, and the club will look to repeat the approach that brought Donyell Malen to the club in the winter window last year, targeting players unhappy with their minutes elsewhere. Roma have navigated the simultaneous absences of Paulo Dybala and Manu Koné better than in the past, but the spell still left its mark. The capital club is interested in Jamie Gittens and Endrick, who are in that situation. Giorgi Kvernadze and Jamie Leweling, meanwhile, are fixtures for Frosinone and Stuttgart. Roma also intend to add a central midfielder. Overall, the club have done well outside their clashes with the very best sides, but a couple more options would help a coach who likes to make changes from the bench. A midfield powerhouse would be more useful than an extra attacker, assuming Rodrigo Mora and Santiago Castro keep developing.

Roma remain interested in Endrick, with contacts with the player's agent still active ahead of the January transfer window. The club is looking for an attacker to complete its forward line and raise the quality of its attack, and Endrick is among the profiles the head coach likes. As revealed in recent days, the Roma coach held talks with the Real Madrid management on Thursday 15 October, the day after Roma lost 3-4 to the Blancos at the Stadio Olimpico. Roma's market staff were involved in the meeting. The 2006-born player is still finding limited game time under Mourinho, despite public statements, which keeps him a transfer target for the Giallorossi. According to Matteo Moretto, D'Amico is keeping talks with the player's camp alive, and Roma are working on the lead.

Eintracht Frankfurt are reportedly interested in Buba Sangaré, who Roma sold to Elche last summer for €4.5 million. Roma have kept a 20% stake in any future resale of the midfielder, and the club are following the situation closely. The Giallorossi retained that percentage in the deal that took Sangaré to Elche, meaning any future sale could bring them a share of the proceeds. Those funds could be useful to reinvest in the transfer market. Roma's interest in how the situation develops is clear, as the club could recoup money that they can put back into their squad-building plans.