Roma eyes Nkunku move as summer recruitment drive stalls

Lorenzo Pellegrini remains in limbo nearly a month after his contract expired on 30 June, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini keen to retain him but negotiations still unresolved ahead of the new season. Gasperini has sought Pellegrini's confirmation alongside Paulo Dybala and Zeki Çelik; Dybala has already signed new terms and Çelik has departed, but Pellegrini's future remains uncertain. The midfielder is currently recovering from a previous season injury and unavailable for training, which has extended talks. Gasperini said: "I hope for the renewal, but at this moment the player could not train. He must recover from injury, for this reason the timescales are a little longer. In the meantime I hope he can recover as soon as possible, then reach an agreement." A banner from the Roma supporters' group appeared at the training ground reading: "Making a mistake can happen... Repeating it means carelessness! Let's hold on to Lorenzo!" Bryan Cristante added his support after Roma's friendly with Trastevere at Trigoria, saying he had been in contact with Pellegrini and was waiting for him with open arms. The sticking point centres on contract duration: Pellegrini is requesting a three-year deal but would reportedly accept two years. The squad will soon relocate from Trigoria to Wales for their summer training camp.

Paulo Dybala has emerged as Roma's bright spot in an otherwise quiet transfer window, impressing during pre-season work at Trigoria over the opening two weeks. The Argentine scored three goals across early tests against the Primavera and Trastevere, operating consistently on the right flank alongside Wesley. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has paired the pair to devastating effect, with the Brazilian exploiting Dybala's inward runs to attack space in overlapping positions. Roma underlined Dybala's strategic and symbolic importance when they stationed him on the balcony of via degli Uffici del Vicario on the night of 21–22 July to greet almost 10,000 supporters gathered for the club's birthday celebrations. While Gasperini works with Dybala and Matías Soulé on the pitch, the sporting directorate pursues reinforcements on the left wing—a priority after failed moves for Greenwood and Summerville. Director of Sport Tony D'Amico is monitoring several international profiles, including Antonio Nusa and Said El Mala of Cologne, though the German club's €50 million valuation for the 19-year-old gives Roma pause given his single season of Bundesliga experience. Recent additions to the shortlist include Oscar Bobb of Manchester City and Brazilian Luiz Henrique.

Roma's plans to strengthen the attack are dependent on outgoings first. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini wants a new partner to support Donyell Malen, but the club must lighten its forward line and free up wage space before investing. Artem Dovbyk is the primary target for departure, with his sale crucial for Roma to raise funds and create salary room. The Ukrainian striker has attracted interest from Genoa and Fiorentina, while Bologna are monitoring a potential swap involving Santiago Castro, and Villarreal are also keeping watch from abroad. In addition to Dovbyk's permanent exit, Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico plans to move young Robinio Vaz out on loan to guarantee him regular playing time. The capital club's strategy is now clearly defined: reduce the wage bill, generate the necessary resources, and then pursue the attacking reinforcement requested by Gasperini. The restructuring of the squad reflects Roma's intention to reshape the forward department while maintaining financial discipline.