Roma in final push: Luiz Henrique or Leweling as attackers weigh on decision

Roma are making a new push to sign Jamie Gittens from Chelsea as sporting director D'Amico works to complete Gasperini's attacking options following the collapse of the Leweling deal. The Leweling move fell through after the player rejected Roma following an agreement with Stuttgart. Roma are structuring a proposal around a loan deal worth €5 million with a right of purchase set at approximately €55 million, bringing the overall package to €60 million. Chelsea have consistently demanded an outright transfer, but the comprehensive package being tabled could shift the dynamic in these final hours of the transfer window. Roma are still seeking the green light from the English club.

Roma are making a fresh attempt to sign Chelsea winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens on the final night of the transfer window. The key development is Chelsea's reported willingness to consider a loan formula that Roma has been pursuing throughout the summer. The deal would see Bynoe-Gittens arrive on a paid loan worth approximately €5 million, with a right of purchase set at around €55 million. This structure would allow Roma to bring in the player immediately without bearing the full upfront cost of the transfer fee. Bynoe-Gittens, born in 2004, has been one of Roma's priority targets in the latter stages of the window as they continue hunting for an attacking winger. The Gittens track remains very much alive heading into the final hours of the market, with Roma keeping several options open. The club had previously worked on bringing him in but had not secured Chelsea's backing for the loan-with-purchase-option structure until now. With the window entering its closing stages and the Leweling prospect reportedly fading, Roma are waiting to see whether Chelsea will finally grant the approval necessary to complete one of the summer's major objectives. The €5 million loan fee and €55 million purchase option represent a compromise that could unlock the deal in the dying moments of the transfer period.

Jamie Leweling has declined to open the door to a Roma move despite intensive negotiations on 31 August, leaving the giallorossi's hopes of completing a deal in tatters. Roma and Stuttgart had reportedly reached an agreement, but the German winger refused to give the club the go-ahead, catching general manager D'Amico off-guard at a moment when Roma believed the operation was on the brink of completion. The collapse of the Leweling pursuit also freezes the parallel track: Luiz Henrique, the Brazilian forward for whom Roma already held agreements with both Zenit and the player himself, remains in limbo while the club pivoted to prioritise the Stuttgart negotiations. Roma had restructured their approach after an initial loan-with-obligation-to-buy proposal was rejected. The club tabled a fresh offer worth €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses, coupled with a contract through to 2031, but Leweling has resisted commitment to his future. The 22-year-old is weighing competing interest from Premier League clubs—Everton and Liverpool among them—while a stay at Stuttgart remains an option he has not ruled out. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini was waiting for Roma to deliver an attacking winger, and Leweling had climbed the priority list over Henrique in what was shaping as a crucial final push of the window. Sources Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano reported that Roma held fresh discussions with Stuttgart throughout 31 August in an attempt to bridge the gap on structure and financial terms, following the rejection of an earlier giallorossi proposal in preceding days. The two clubs had moved into what was described as a very hot phase of negotiation. Roma's sporting director D'Amico had been convinced the Leweling deal could be closed, with a response expected either by evening on 31 August or by the morning of 1 September at the latest. Sky Sport Germany's Dennis Bayer confirmed Leweling had asked for time to reflect on his future and had not yet communicated his decision. With Leweling's rejection, the Henrique option—which offers Roma a ready-made agreement with both club and player—returns to the table as a fallback. The article makes clear the Leweling operation is now destined to collapse entirely.

Roma have tabled a fresh offer for Zenit Saint Petersburg winger Luiz Henrique in the closing stages of the transfer window, signalling the club's determination to land an attacking reinforcement for coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The new proposal is worth approximately €38 million in fixed fees plus €5 million in add-ons, for a total potential value near €43 million, according to ESPN Brasil. This represents a significant increase on Roma's previous bid, which Zenit rejected when it stood at around €38 million overall; Roma restructured the deal to boost the guaranteed component. The renewed push for Luiz Henrique comes after the transfer track appeared to have stalled in recent hours. Simultaneously, Roma continue to pursue Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling as an alternative avenue. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is working both leads without yet establishing a clear hierarchy between the two targets. The timing carries additional weight: Roma recently cleared the way for forward Robinio Vaz to leave after initially blocking his departure pending the arrival of a replacement, a move the article frames as a potential signal of the club's confidence in closing at least one of the two deals in the coming days. Both pursuits underscore Roma's commitment to bolstering their attacking options. The elevated offer for Luiz Henrique demonstrates the club's willingness to invest substantially, while the Leweling option remains concrete. As of now, neither deal is finalized—Zenit have not accepted Roma's improved proposal—and the next phase will clarify which path is more likely to reach completion.

Roma have given the green light for Robinio Vaz to join Hull City on loan, with the young forward set to undergo medical examinations on 1 September. The move will be structured as a loan deal worth €2 million, with Hull City holding a purchase option valued at €30 million. Vaz's departure had been temporarily blocked by Roma and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who wanted assurances over an attacking reinforcement before allowing another forward to leave. The clearance now comes with the club still active in the final hours of the transfer window to strengthen the offensive department. Gasperini and Roma felt it necessary to secure a replacement before sanctioning any further exits from that area of the squad. According to Fabrizio Romano, Vaz has been authorised to travel to England. The move offers the French forward an opportunity to find greater playing time in the Premier League, joining a Hull City side that has made a strong start to the campaign with two victories in their opening two fixtures.

Roma have given Robinio Vaz permission to travel to England for medical examinations with Hull City, scheduled for 1 September. The French forward will join the Premier League club on a paid loan worth €2 million with a purchase option set at €30 million. Vaz, a class of 2007 player, will link up with a Hull side that have won both of their opening fixtures this season. Gasperini and Roma had blocked the transfer in recent hours while waiting to secure a replacement. The club's authorization of Vaz's departure is viewed as a potential indication that negotiations are advancing for Leweling, another target on the club's radar.

Jan Ziółkowski has left AS Roma to join Monza on a season-long loan deal with a right of recall. Roma confirmed the transfer on 31 August 2026, with the arrangement structured as a loan with an option for Monza to make the move permanent at the end of the period by exercising the agreed clause. Ziółkowski departs after accumulating 23 appearances and one goal in a Roma shirt. The defender's exit brings his time at the club to a close, at least for the immediate future, as Roma continue their 2026-27 campaign.

Roma have intensified their pursuit of several attacking targets on the final day of the transfer window, 31 August 2026. The club reportedly raised their bid for Luiz Henrique to €38 million plus €5 million in bonuses—a total package of €43 million—described as a decisive proposal. Meanwhile, the future of Matías Soulé remains critical to Roma's ability to complete multiple signings; without his departure, landing both Leweling and Luiz Henrique appears difficult, though the club has prioritized the German. If Soulé leaves, Roma could free resources to add a second attacking winger in the closing hours. Robinio Vaz has been authorised to join Hull City, completing his loan move with a €2 million loan fee and a €30 million purchase option. Jamie Leweling remains a live target despite Stuttgart's rejection of Roma's initial proposal of €5 million on loan plus €35 million obligation to buy. German sources indicate Stuttgart's valuation could reach €50–55 million, but Roma continue working on the deal, attracted to Leweling's versatility as both an attacking winger and full-back. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, described as Gasperini's preferred profile for his technical qualities, remains complicated by Chelsea's resistance; the Blues want a permanent sale around €50 million rather than a loan. Roma hope for an opening on loan terms and plan to keep negotiations open until the final hours. On the defensive front, Niccolò Pisilli is considered central to Roma's project and not for sale except for offers exceeding €60 million; Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle have shown interest, while Juventus, Inter and Milan are monitoring domestically. Real Madrid have reportedly evaluated Evan N'Dicka for their defence at a valuation of €30–35 million, though this remains conditional on outgoings at the Spanish club. Young players Jan Ziółkowski and Lorenzo Paratici are departing. Ziółkowski's loan to Monza with a purchase option is now finalised, while Paratici returns to Roma from Sampdoria following a spell away; he scored 12 goals in 14 Under-18 matches but had limited Primavera opportunities. Ante Mardešić, a 17-year-old Croatian midfielder from NK Trnje born in 2009, is set to arrive after impressing Roma during a trial at Trigoria. Matías Soulé has been offered to Atlético Madrid, though the Spanish club's advanced negotiations for Jonathan David mean Roma's winger is not currently a priority there. Fulham, Newcastle and Sunderland have also expressed interest in Soulé, but no decisive offer has arrived; Roma's valuation stands at around €40 million, though this could drop slightly in the final rush. Roma's activity continues across multiple fronts as the August deadline approaches. Head coach Gasperini has suggested Soulé may stay, but the club remains open to selling him for a significant offer—a move that would unlock funds for two additional attacking options. Manu Koné has attracted fresh Premier League attention, with Chelsea reportedly identifying the midfielder as a priority replacement for Enzo Fernández should he leave for Manchester City. The focus for Roma now centres on whether Soulé departs and which of the attacking targets—Leweling, Luiz Henrique, or Bynoe-Gittens—can be completed in the final hours.

Leonardo Balerdi has given his first interview as a Roma player, describing his arrival from Marseille as a move to convince Gasperini and climb the defensive hierarchy. The Argentine former Marseille captain spoke to the club's official channels about his childhood, Gasperini's interest dating back to his Atalanta years, and his experiences elsewhere. "I am truly happy and very calm," Balerdi said. "From the moment I arrived here in Rome they welcomed me with incredible affection and warmth." Bareldi is included in Roma's squad for the trip to Lecce on 31 August at 18:30 for the second Serie A round. Roma come into the fixture on the back of a 4–0 home win against Fiorentina and aim to maintain that momentum. However, Devyne Rensch remains unavailable and will return to Gasperini's disposal on Tuesday; Lorenzo Pellegrini is also sidelined. Jan Ziółkowski and Robinio Vaz are absent due to transfer matters. Gasperini has already moved to strengthen the squad, completing the arrival of Marten De Roon from Atalanta within 24–48 hours. De Roon, who boasts over 60 international caps, was released by Atalanta after many years at the club and was not in their plans. Gasperini explained the reasoning behind the De Roon move at his pre-match press conference: "De Roon came about quickly in the space of 24–48 hours. He had a situation at Atalanta after many years and did not fit their plans. There was this opportunity and I made contact with Percassi. They made the decision very quickly and left him free to decide. So El Aynaoui has the chance of a new experience. From an economic perspective it is important because it gives us the chance to move on another role. De Roon is intact even if he is an advanced age; he will enter a strong group that wants to be protagonists. Two captains have arrived and I believe we give this squad a strong physical turning point that it needs, as well as personality. Marten is Dutch like Malen and balances out the Argentines. I am certainly happy and I think from this aspect we come out solid." With three days remaining in the summer transfer window, Roma continue to pursue reinforcements for Gasperini, particularly a left-winger with a right foot. The club is now pushing hard for Luiz Henrique, a Brazilian winger born in 2001 at Zenit. According to Fabrizio Romano, talks are ongoing between Roma and Zenit over Henrique, who has signalled openness to the move and made Roma his priority. The two clubs must now reach final agreement.

Roma swept aside Lecce 4–0 at the Stadio Via del Mare to record a second successive four-goal victory with no goals conceded. Donyell Malen scored twice in quick succession to break the deadlock, with Matías Soulé adding a third before Rodrigo Mora sealed the win. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini rotated his squad extensively, while the heat at the coastal venue posed no obstacle to Roma's rhythm and precision. The victory extends Roma's flawless start to the season and sends strong signals of intent in Serie A and Europe. Gasperini oversaw a composed, clinical performance from a team operating with high intensity despite the temperature. Daniele Ghilardi stepped in at short notice after Evan N'Dicka's late absence, while Marten de Roon made his Roma debut when introduced late in the match. The manager made several changes as the game progressed, including bringing on Niccolò Pisilli and Nahuel Molina to manage playing time and maintain sharpness across the squad. Malen's display earned an 8.5 rating in the Italian match ratings, with analysts noting his clinical finishing and all-round threat. He scored his opening goal within five minutes and added a fifth after carrying forward his momentum from Roma's previous fixture. Soulé's performance drew praise for his work rate, though the rating noted he could sharpen his finishing inside the box—he scored nonetheless. Dybala took on a creative role rather than dominating the attack, chipping in with defensive cover when needed and generating chances for teammates. Mile Svilar made a decisive save on his rare involvement in the first half, denying Lecce any consolation. Gasperini deployed a measured approach during cooling breaks to keep concentration levels high, managing a rotation policy that allowed most of the squad meaningful action while maintaining Roma's dominance across the 90 minutes.

Roma swept to a dominant 4-0 victory at Lecce, with Donyell Malen delivering a man-of-the-match display that included two goals and creative play throughout. The forward struck in the third minute to open the scoring, then added a second shortly after, and continued to drive Roma's attack with assists and tireless running. Paulo Dybala orchestrated play between the lines and set up further goals, though he squandered a clear chance in the second half. Gianluca Mancini, shifted to centre at the last moment, dominated his direct opponent and provided an assist for Rodrigo Mora's contribution to the scoreline. Gasperini's side displayed complete control from the outset. Bryan Cristante commanded the midfield with the authority of a captain, exploiting Lecce's turnover attempts and combining physical presence with tactical awareness. The coach made no changes to his selection despite Chelsea's reported interest in Manu Koné, whose performance drew praise for his positioning and defensive work in hot conditions. Emanuele Lulli continued his run of mature displays at the back, while Wesley combined creative work with Matías Soulé on the left and contributed to the sweeping attacking move that produced Roma's second goal. Daniele Ghilardi came into the side and brought personality to his performance, inserting himself into the left flank between Lulli and Dybala and adding an offensive dimension without conceding space behind. The rout illustrated Roma's fitness advantage and tactical superiority. Hermoso brought physical authority and experience to break up Lecce's attacking moves, finishing in growing form and making a crucial line clearance. Koné appeared suddenly behind Lecce's attacking midfielders and moved the ball effectively in dangerous areas. Dybala received standing ovations from the Via del Mare crowd, his half-yard of space consistently yielding chances for teammates, though the sole criticism came from his wasted opportunity in the second half. Malen's performance overshadowed any individual concern—he recovered the ball relentlessly, ran the channels without rest, and went close to adding two more goals. Rodrigo Mora's entry brought absolute positivity to the midfield, offering a sharp contrast to Niccolò Pisilli's substitute appearance, which lacked its usual spark.

Roma have intensified their pursuit of several attacking targets on the final day of the transfer window, 31 August 2026. The club reportedly raised their bid for Luiz Henrique to €38 million plus €5 million in bonuses—a total package of €43 million—described as a decisive proposal. Meanwhile, the future of Matías Soulé remains critical to Roma's ability to complete multiple signings; without his departure, landing both Leweling and Luiz Henrique appears difficult, though the club has prioritized the German. If Soulé leaves, Roma could free resources to add a second attacking winger in the closing hours. Robinio Vaz has been authorised to join Hull City, completing his loan move with a €2 million loan fee and a €30 million purchase option. Jamie Leweling remains a live target despite Stuttgart's rejection of Roma's initial proposal of €5 million on loan plus €35 million obligation to buy. German sources indicate Stuttgart's valuation could reach €50–55 million, but Roma continue working on the deal, attracted to Leweling's versatility as both an attacking winger and full-back. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, described as Gasperini's preferred profile for his technical qualities, remains complicated by Chelsea's resistance; the Blues want a permanent sale around €50 million rather than a loan. Roma hope for an opening on loan terms and plan to keep negotiations open until the final hours. On the defensive front, Niccolò Pisilli is considered central to Roma's project and not for sale except for offers exceeding €60 million; Tottenham, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle have shown interest, while Juventus, Inter and Milan are monitoring domestically. Real Madrid have reportedly evaluated Evan N'Dicka for their defence at a valuation of €30–35 million, though this remains conditional on outgoings at the Spanish club. Young players Jan Ziółkowski and Lorenzo Paratici are departing. Ziółkowski's loan to Monza with a purchase option is now finalised, while Paratici returns to Roma from Sampdoria following a spell away; he scored 12 goals in 14 Under-18 matches but had limited Primavera opportunities. Ante Mardešić, a 17-year-old Croatian midfielder from NK Trnje born in 2009, is set to arrive after impressing Roma during a trial at Trigoria. Matías Soulé has been offered to Atlético Madrid, though the Spanish club's advanced negotiations for Jonathan David mean Roma's winger is not currently a priority there. Fulham, Newcastle and Sunderland have also expressed interest in Soulé, but no decisive offer has arrived; Roma's valuation stands at around €40 million, though this could drop slightly in the final rush. Roma's activity continues across multiple fronts as the August deadline approaches. Head coach Gasperini has suggested Soulé may stay, but the club remains open to selling him for a significant offer—a move that would unlock funds for two additional attacking options. Manu Koné has attracted fresh Premier League attention, with Chelsea reportedly identifying the midfielder as a priority replacement for Enzo Fernández should he leave for Manchester City. The focus for Roma now centres on whether Soulé departs and which of the attacking targets—Leweling, Luiz Henrique, or Bynoe-Gittens—can be completed in the final hours.