Roma eyes Nkunku move as summer recruitment drive stalls

Roma are reportedly eyeing a left-sided option, and Giallorossi.net's transfer column "Consigli per gli acquisti" has picked Union Berlin left-back Tom Rothe as its latest profile. The column is looking for a left-footed, athletic, physically robust player who can operate across the full flank in Gian Piero Gasperini's system, and Rothe is presented as fitting that brief. Born on 29 October 2004, Rothe is 21 and a natural left-footer standing 1.93 metres and weighing 85 kilos, which is unusually big for a flank player. He came through at St. Pauli and Borussia Dortmund, making his Bundesliga debut for BVB at just 17 and scoring straight away. After a loan spell at Holstein Kiel, where he finished with 4 goals and won promotion to the Bundesliga, Union Berlin bought him in summer 2024 for around 5 million euros. His natural position is left-back, but he can play as a wing-back and could be developed as a left-sided centre-back in a three. The article describes Rothe as more of a physical presence than a typical winger. He is strong in the air, holds his ground in duels and has a long stride, though he is not a pure sprinter, with a top speed of around 31.5 km/h. His main asset is the ability to run the flank continually, carry the attack and offer a physical presence in both phases. The writer argues this mix suits Gasperini's emphasis on one-on-one duels, and that at 21 he has considerable room to grow, so Roma would be buying a player to develop into a starter in the coming years. Rothe is not yet a finished product. He needs to improve the quality of his final pass, the accuracy of his crosses and his attacking one-v-one play. He creates more through physicality, running and runs into the box than through dribbling. He also had a fairly long lay-off between December and March last season. The article finds no pattern that would make him a particularly fragile player, but it is still an aspect to monitor. Union Berlin paid around 5 million euros for him, and his market value is now put at around 10 million euros. Taking into account his age, first-team status and potential, the German club would presumably ask for more, but the deal would still sit within a plausible economic range for Roma. One detail needs checking: when Union signed Rothe, Borussia Dortmund kept a buy-back right. Before any negotiation, it would be necessary to establish whether that clause is still valid and on what terms. The writer concludes that Rothe is not yet ready for a major European club, which is precisely what makes him interesting now. He is 21, left-footed, 1.93 metres tall, a regular in the Bundesliga and part of the Germany Under-21 set-up. Compared with Oosterwolde, he is less explosive but taller and has greater room for growth. The column wants to highlight young, physical players who remain affordable before they become too expensive.

Emanuele Lulli has signed a new contract with Roma running until 2031, tying the young full-back to the club after he was close to leaving last summer. Lulli, born in Palestrina and a lifelong Roma fan, was reportedly on the verge of joining Avellino when head coach Gian Piero Gasperini took him to pre-season training, watched him closely and halted the move. "Rimane qui" ("He stays here"), Gasperini told sporting director D'Amico. Lulli has made a strong start in Serie A, starting five of the first seven league matches and scoring his first goal against Genoa, in front of Daniele De Rossi. The deal matters for the club's future. Lulli's contract was due to expire in June 2027, which made an extension a priority on D'Amico's agenda. The new agreement runs to 2031 and starts on a base salary of 300,000 euros, rising over the years to around one million euros per season. The renewal was backed by everyone at the club, especially the player himself, who never considered leaving. Lazio also showed interest in him, but Lulli's goal was always to play for the team he has supported since childhood. Lulli's story also reflects Roma's tradition of homegrown Romans in the squad. He starred at Tor Tre Teste, where he played alongside the son of Marco Albergati, who worked for years with Bruno Conti, and Marazico was decisive in bringing him to Trigoria. Against Slovan, Niccolò Pisilli scored while wearing the captain's armband, and Lulli now looks like the club's next future captain. Lulli could start again at Napoli tomorrow, having given way to Nahuel Molina in the Champions League, and he is ready to reclaim the right flank in the league, with the race for the spot open.

Roma are preparing to tie down Emanuele Lulli to a new contract, with the young player nearing a renewal even though his current deal is approaching expiry. His form this season has earned him a growing share of minutes in Gian Piero Gasperini's rotation. Lulli marked his first goal for Roma in last week's win over Genoa, a strike that rewarded his gradual progression into the first team and further strengthened the coaching staff's confidence in him. Ahead of the trip to Napoli at the Maradona, he is reportedly challenging Nahuel Molina for a starting place. Gasperini has already shown he intends to widen his rotations, and Lulli's running, intensity and ability to contribute in both phases of play have made him an increasingly credible option. The renewal would be the natural reward for a path that has taken Lulli from backup to possible starter. Roma are keen to secure one of the most promising products of their youth sector and avoid his contract running too close to its expiry. In just a few weeks, the player has already started to change the pecking order in the squad.