Roma in talks with Fiorentina over Dodô transfer

Jonathan Rowe, Bologna's striker, has praised Santiago Castro's move to Roma and offered warm words about Artem Dovbyk, who has made the reverse journey from the Giallorossi to Bologna this summer. Rowe told Gazzetta dello Sport: "I'm happy for him. I wish him to grow further at Roma because he's an excellent player and a friend. It will be very strange to face him, we hope he does well except against us." On Dovbyk, who departed Roma for Bologna, Rowe said: "For me he's a top player. He has physicality, technique, he sees the goal. He has everything to do well and to get his revenge. I'm very happy he's with us." The comments reflect the close relationship between the two Serie A sides, with Castro and Dovbyk swapping clubs in the current transfer window.

Torino have opened talks with Evan Ferguson regarding a potential move to Serie A, according to reports. The Giallorossi forward, currently on loan at Roma, is being targeted by the Turin club as they seek attacking reinforcement ahead of the 2026–27 season. Torino's injury worries — particularly with Zapata dealing with a knee problem, Adams in the squad, and Njie potentially departing — have prompted the club to explore fresh options in the final third. Ferguson scored five goals during his time in a Roma shirt but endured a complicated campaign hampered by injuries, which necessitated surgical intervention. The 22-year-old arrived at the Stadio Olimpico on loan from Brighton with a €40 million option to buy last summer. His injury struggles and limited opportunities have now caught the attention of Torino, who believe a fresh start in Turin could benefit both player and club. Initial contact between Torino and Ferguson's representatives has been made to assess the feasibility and terms of a potential transfer.

Roma have revived their interest in Bologna winger Jonathan Rowe as they continue to strengthen their squad for the 2026–27 season, but the English talent has firmly closed the door on a move. Following the closure of the Molina operation, Roma identified Rowe as a potential left-sided winger to meet Gasperini's requirements. However, the path to a deal appears blocked: Bologna have already rejected an offer of approximately €30 million from Everton and regard Rowe as non-transferable. Roma have engaged with Rowe's representatives, though the chances of securing him remain low. Rowe himself has made his position clear in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, stating: "I am a Bologna player. This is a great club, with clear ideas and a new project that I am focused on one hundred per cent on. I feel part of this world, I do not think of anything else and nothing else interests me." The transfer approach comes after the pista Nusa cooled owing to cost considerations. Roma's pursuit of alternatives underscores Gasperini's continued search for a right-footed left winger to complete his attacking arsenal. Rowe also offered a warm message for Santiago Castro, who recently arrived at Roma from Bologna: "I am happy for him. I wish him to grow even more at Roma because he is an excellent player and a friend. It will be very strange to face him, we hope he does well… except against us."

Lorenzo Pellegrini is set to renew his Roma contract today, with medical checks and signing scheduled for 8 August. The club also expects to confirm the arrival of Nahuel Molina. However, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini remains focused on securing an attacking left winger, the marquee piece of the transfer window. The pursuit of Antonio Nusa has grown complicated, prompting director D'Amico to explore alternatives including Fofana of Lyon and Gittens of Chelsea. Roma is simultaneously working to strengthen the left-back position as a deputy to Wesley. Gasperini wants a young prospect with potential, and D'Amico is negotiating with Torino for Alessio Cacciamani, though the Serie A club is demanding €20 million. Fiorentina's Nicolò Fortini is being evaluated as a backup option. The window remains active as Roma attempts to complete its recruitment objectives before the season progresses.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a four-hour meeting with new CEO Galantic and Tony D'Amico at Roma's Welsh training camp, forcing the coach to cancel a scheduled Sky television appearance. The summit focused on urgent transfer priorities with the league season opening against Fiorentina only weeks away. Gasperini reiterated two critical shortages: a right-footed winger — with the Nusa target remaining financially prohibitive — and reinforcement on the left flank, where Wesley is currently the only available senior starter following the departures of Angeliño and Tsimikas, and with Salah-Eddine also set to leave. The club confirmed Lorenzo Pellegrini is undergoing medical tests to formalise an annual contract renewal through 2027 at a reduced salary, while Marash Kumbulla has completed a loan move to Rayo Vallecano with a buy option. Goalkeepers Zelezny and Vasquez remain among the squad members whose positions are still to be clarified. Ticket sales for Roma's first home fixture at the Olimpico have opened to long queues, building on strong momentum from 40,000 season-ticket subscriptions, with a quick sell-out anticipated.

Roma are actively searching the transfer market to reinforce their left flank following Kostas Tsimikas's departure. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini needs a left-sided defender capable of rotating with Wesley throughout the upcoming season. Alessio Cacciamani, the Torino full-back, remains at the top of Roma's wishlist, but the Serie A club is unwilling to sell. Torino president Cairo stated: "We absolutely want to keep him, he's been here for 3 years and has done very well. He had a beautiful season at Juve Stabia... I repeat, the objective is to keep him, absolutely." Torino are demanding approximately 20 million euros; they rejected Roma's initial offer of 13 million. With negotiations over Cacciamani proving difficult, Roma's transfer chief D'Amico is exploring alternative targets. One prospect is Nicolò Fortini of Fiorentina, a 2006-born left-back Roma had monitored in the previous season. Fortini's contract expires in 2027 with no renewal talks underway, potentially making him a more affordable option. Gasperini's profile for the position is clear: a young, athletic defender with strong development potential who can share duties with Wesley and improve within the club.

Luca Gotti, the former Udinese coach who developed Nahuel Molina, has backed Roma's pursuit of the Argentina international as an ideal recruit for Giampiero Gasperini's system. Speaking on Radio Manà Manà, Gotti praised Molina's trajectory since arriving in Italy in 2020 as an unknown quantity from Boca Juniors: "His path at Udine was so devastating that in his first year Argentina observers like Scaloni and Walter Samuel would often attend our matches to watch De Paul and Musso. They noticed Molina and convoked him in March to the national team. From there his career turned: today we speak of a World Champion, two-time Copa América winner, with important baggage matured in Madrid." Gotti believes Molina's pace, reactivity and high tempo suit Gasperini's demands perfectly, particularly in a five-defender setup that will unleash his attacking instincts. With Wesley and Devyne Rensch also competing for the right-back role, Gotti expects Wesley to shift to the left flank if needed, positioning Molina as the primary option on the right. Molina's understanding with Paulo Dybala should develop naturally given his experience linking play at international level. On character, Gotti described him as "a fantastic lad, calm and very sunny." However, he identified one area for refinement: "If there's a defect, it's that he can sometimes be lightweight or superficial inside his own penalty area. He still lacks a touch of attention in preventive reading inside the final sixteen metres. Yet Molina possesses the hardest qualities to teach already; attention and care in the defensive phase are aspects that, with daily work and experience, a master like Gasperini will easily complete."

Roma will face Brighton in a pre-season friendly at the American Express Stadium on 8 August 2026 at 16:00 Italian time. The match comes after Roma's training camp in Wales and friendlies against Cardiff and Newport County. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is expected to field a 3-4-2-1 formation with Mile Svilar in goal, a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, and Mario Hermoso, midfielders Devyne Rensch, Neil El Aynaoui, Bryan Cristante, and Wesley, with Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé in attacking roles behind striker Donyell Malen. Tickets for the fixture are available through Brighton's official website. The friendly will be broadcast live on DAZN, with live text coverage available on ilromanista.eu and radio commentary from Radio Romanista providing real-time updates from the stadium.

Roma are poised to complete the signing of Nahuel Molina from Atlético Madrid as their third summer acquisition, following Castro and Koulierakis. The Argentine right-back's arrival will close the gap left by Zeki Çelik's departure to Juventus and pair him with Wesley on the left flank as Gasperini builds an attacking wide setup centred on dribbling and goalscoring from the wings. Molina represents a significant offensive upgrade on Çelik. The 2022 World Cup winner produced 9 goals and 16 assists across his final four La Liga seasons and posted a 55.6% successful dribbling rate and 41.7% long-ball completion rate in his last campaign. This contrasts sharply with Çelik's output of 1 goal, 2 assists and 0.4 crosses per 90 minutes, along with a 22% dribbling success rate last season. Wesley, meanwhile, has established himself as the undisputed left-back, contributing 5 goals and 0 assists (though expected assists data reads 3.73) with numerous driblings and won duels. Devyne Rensch currently serves as the only backup option across both flanks. Gasperini is pursuing additional depth—reportedly Torino's Cacciamani, a 2007-born prospect and one of Italian football's most promising young talents, or another external alternative. Torino president Cairo has expressed reluctance to sell Cacciamani, but the right financial offer could persuade him, particularly given Cacciamani's prior experience under Abate at Juve Stabia in Serie B.