Roma haven't given up on Oosterwolde: January window could reopen talks

Wesley has reached out to Endrick with an off-field manoeuvre aimed at persuading the Real Madrid forward to join Roma in January. The Brazilian, who returned to the capital after missing the World Cup through injury, has messaged the striker to convey how appealing it would be to have him at the club and share the dressing room. The contact was a spontaneous exchange between the two as friends, without any formal involvement from Roma's management — but that personal relationship could become a small advantage for the Giallorossi as they prepare to compete with AC Milan for Endrick's signature in the winter window. The reversal marks a shift from earlier in the year, when Endrick had sought out Wesley during one of the most difficult phases of his young career. Now Wesley has taken the initiative to welcome him to Roma, leveraging a friendship that may help the club stand out in a battle for the forward's services. Roma's trump card is Wesley himself — a tangible human connection and the promise of a familiar ally in the squad. The timing carries symbolic weight. Endrick will be at the Olimpico on 14 October, where he will see the stadium, the fans and the atmosphere of the capital. After Wesley's message, he may begin to genuinely imagine what it would be like to experience that environment as a protagonist.

Roma are exploring a move for Endrick, the Brazilian forward at Real Madrid, with midfielder Wesley acting as an intermediary to persuade the 18-year-old to join the club in January. Endrick was signed by Real Madrid from Palmeiras for €60 million in 2022 but has been sidelined under José Mourinho, accumulating only four minutes of competitive football across Liga and cup competitions. Wesley and Endrick share a deep bond forged through the Brazilian national team under Carlo Ancelotti; when Wesley suffered a serious knee injury on 7 June, Endrick was among the first to reach out with support. Now the roles have reversed, with Wesley intensifying contact to convince Endrick of the merits of Gasperini's Roma project and persuade him to open the door to a winter transfer to the capital. Roma have already made initial contact with Endrick's representatives and want to structure the deal as a loan with a right of purchase and a counter-option in favour of Real Madrid. The Spanish club's president Florentino Pérez has signalled openness to a temporary move to give the young striker playing time. Endrick holds 24 senior caps for Brazil despite his limited minutes in Madrid. Wesley has made no secret of his desire to play alongside his compatriot, expressing his wish to do so during the summer window. Milan are also monitoring developments, but Roma are banking on the appeal of Gasperini's football and Wesley's decisive influence to win the race. Two key dates will present opportunities for the parties to discuss the move in detail. Roma and Real Madrid meet at the Stadio Olimpico on 14 October in the UEFA Champions League league phase, followed by a November international break when Ancelotti's Brazil squad will play engagements in Singapore. These fixtures and the period around them will be crucial in determining whether the transfer can gather momentum ahead of the winter window.

Arsenal have entered the chase for Roma's Wesley, joining Manchester United and Newcastle in monitoring the Brazilian winger. The Gunners are tracking Wesley as part of their search for reinforcements on the flanks, with the 23-year-old having drawn widespread English attention for his form under Gian Piero Gasperini. Wesley has become one of Europe's most closely watched wingers and has demonstrated his ability to operate on both flanks. Wesley's valuation has risen sharply. Around a year ago, the Brazilian was valued at approximately €30 million; current reports from England suggest that figure has nearly doubled. Roma are now seeking €60 million to consider negotiations. The club has not signalled any intention to sell Wesley, who remains a key part of Gasperini's project. However, the interest from top English sides continues to intensify, with Arsenal, Manchester United, and Newcastle identified as the three clubs most closely following his situation. Monaco's Vanderson is also attracting attention from the same trio of Premier League clubs, valued around €40 million and considered a more accessible alternative. For Wesley, the asking price reflects his status as a top-tier prospect: any club wishing to sign him will need to present an offer befitting a player of that calibre.

Gian Piero Gasperini is already planning Roma's January window despite the club sitting top of the table with a functioning attack led by Dybala and Malen. Between appearances at the Trento Festival and work at Trigoria, Roma are targeting reinforcements in the attacking department, focusing on players currently struggling for minutes at their clubs. A conversation between CEO Galantic and Gasperini at the festival underscores Roma's philosophy of planning winter moves in advance. Roma's priority remains a quality wide forward, with evaluation also ongoing into a more complete profile like Oosterwolde. Four players already tracked in the summer transfer window remain in the club's sights: Gittens, Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Endrick. The common thread linking them is a shortage of regular playing time. Gittens, a Gasperini favourite, has yet to debut in the Premier League. Leweling plays only sporadic minutes at Stuttgart and was excluded from the initial squad list under new national team coach Klopp. Luiz Henrique remains blocked in Russia by bureaucratic issues that have also cost him national team call-ups. Endrick's situation is the most delicate. Mourinho secured him at Real Madrid over the summer, but the Brazilian has virtually disappeared: just four minutes across La Liga and the Champions League combined. That picture of underuse could shift as soon as November, when UEFA will make decisions on the Settlement Agreement, opening new scenarios potentially favourable to Roma heading into the winter market.

Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is pressing Roma to strengthen their attacking ranks in the January transfer window, a priority that remained unmet during the summer. At the Festival dello Sport in Trento, CEO John Galantic was asked about a possible January arrival and responded: "Nice question." Gasperini immediately added: "Very nice." While the comment was partly tongue-in-cheek, it underscores the coach's determination to add an attacking winger, a position he had already requested in the summer window. Roma's focus remains on securing an attacking wide player, though the club has also considered a full-back option in Jayden Oosterwolde. Four names dominate the shortlist: Jamie Gittens, Jamie Leweling, Luiz Henrique and Endrick. A common thread links most of them — they are struggling for minutes at their current clubs. Gittens, reportedly among Gasperini's preferred targets, has not yet made a Premier League appearance. Leweling has accumulated only 146 minutes across Bundesliga, German Cup and Champions League competition for Stuttgart without starting a match, a lack of game time that also cost him a place in Jürgen Klopp's initial squad list as Germany's new national team coach. Luiz Henrique remains in Russia following bureaucratic obstacles that delayed Roma's pursuit last summer; the Brazilian has also lost ground in the national team setup, making a January reopening of talks less straightforward. Endrick represents a different scenario. The Brazilian was close to Roma in the summer before José Mourinho chose to retain him at Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager had praised him publicly, but has given him only four minutes across league and Champions League fixtures so far. Should his situation remain unchanged, a loan move could become realistic in January. Financial constraints will prove decisive. UEFA's ruling on Roma's Settlement Agreement breach is due in November, and that verdict may constrain the club's negotiating room. Gasperini's technical priority is unmistakable — an attacking wide player — but the scope for converting that request into a concrete deal remains to be determined by the financial outlook.

Roma remain fixed on an attacking winger for the January transfer window, with four candidates dominating discussion at Trigoria: Leweling, Gittens, Luiz Henrique and Endrick. Head coach Gasperini is methodical in his approach—this is his familiar pattern, reshaping the squad when the window reopens. The club also has a full-back slot in mind, though a potential return to Oosterwolde cannot be ruled out. The winger target, however, commands the focus of sporting director D'Amico and Roma's recruitment team. Each of the four front-runners faces obstacles at their current clubs. Gittens, reportedly Gasperini's preference, has yet to debut in the Premier League and suffered an injury while on U21 duty. Leweling has accumulated only 146 minutes of action and missed selection in the new national team coach Klopp's initial squad of 44 players during a difficult phase at his club. Luiz Henrique remained in Russia due to bureaucratic issues and lost his international call-up, making a January move appear unlikely. Endrick, protected and blocked by Mourinho in summer, has been sidelined at Real Madrid with just four minutes of playing time granted. Much hinges on November, when UEFA will rule on Roma's alleged breach of the Settlement Agreement. The expectation is that a loan deal with a purchase option—a formula rejected by the club in summer—may now gain traction and suit Gasperini's requirements.