Roma pursue Fofana as Lyon seek €100m sales

Roma came close to signing English winger Djed Spence from Tottenham but ultimately opted for Nahuel Molina instead, according to comments made by journalist Riccardo Trevisani on radio station Manà Manà Sport. The club had reached an agreement with Tottenham on the basis of €32 million plus €4 million in bonuses, Trevisani revealed, but chose to abandon the move in favour of the Argentine right-back. Financial considerations drove the change in strategy. The Molina transfer presented lower costs and allowed Roma's management to preserve greater financial flexibility for additional market investments. Spence subsequently joined Inter, while Roma pursued Molina to reinforce the right flank. The shift represented a significant moment in the summer window, when Roma's recruitment direction could have taken an entirely different path. Treeisani made the comments during his appearance on the radio programme. The revelation underscores how close Roma came to committing substantial resources to Spence before pivoting to a more economical option that afforded the club greater room to operate elsewhere in the transfer market.

Kostas Tsimikas could be offered a fresh chance in Serie A after his difficult spell at Roma. The left-back has returned to Liverpool but has caught the attention of Juventus, who are searching for a deputy to Cambiaso. Massara, who brought Tsimikas to Roma last summer, could reunite with the defender at Turin. According to Corriere dello Sport, Juventus view Tsimikas as a low-cost option to strengthen their defence. The move would also reunite him with Zeki Çelik, who transferred to Juventus in early July. Tsimikas arrived at Roma on loan from Liverpool ahead of the 2025–26 season but struggled during his time in the capital.

Roma are actively pursuing both Aurélien Fofana and Franck Kessié in the final days of the transfer window, according to multiple commentators on Roman radio on 27 August. Mario Corsi stated: "The situation is this: in these hours people are talking about Fofana and Kessié, Roma is absolutely trying to take them. I'm telling you that Roma is absolutely trying, and something will definitely come out. Then maybe it could be other names, but they'll do something good." Corsi added that if Roma sign both players, there is no reason not to discuss a title challenge, noting: "The only team that has four strong strikers is Inter. I have terrible tension in these last four days because it changes the thinking on the shield." The Fofana deal appears structured as a loan with an obligation to buy triggered by a set number of appearances, rather than an outright €35 million plus bonuses transfer from Lyon. Francesca Ferrazza explained: "Fofana has an important history of injuries, and for this reason they are working on the formula: a loan that then becomes an obligation to buy at a certain number of matches. With players who have this history of injuries you have to be cautious, and for this reason the operation is complicated." She urged swift decisions from the ownership: "Let's hope the Friedkins are quick to give answers to D'Amico and Gasperini to green-light the operations." On Jayden Oosterwolde, Checco Oddo Casano reported: "The situation has been clear since yesterday, but Roma still hasn't decided. The medical staff has expressed their doubts saying: 'Are you really sure you want to take this risk?' I honestly wouldn't take this risk, but then you have to see if you have an alternative ready, because today is 27 August and there is little time." Lorenzo Pes suggested negotiations with Fenerbahçe were ongoing to adjust terms: contacts have resumed "to change the cost of the loan, which will not be expensive but free, and on the number of appearances for the obligation to buy." Separately, speculation around Neil El Aynaoui's future prompted comment. Piero Torri stated: "I'm trying to understand something about El Aynaoui, because the story is building that he could leave Roma. The agent says quite decisively that he stays at Roma. There has been talk of Saudi Arabia and Crystal Palace, but I haven't found evidence." Ilario Di Giovambattista weighed in on Roma's overall strength: "Roma has shown they have a crazy defence—I don't see a better one in Italy. The attack is the best in Serie A along with Inter. Even like this Roma can fight for the title."

Roma are preparing to let Jan Ziółkowski leave on loan to Monza, but the deal hinges on first securing a replacement. The club have identified Morato of Nottingham as their target, according to Il Tempo. Ziółkowski is expected to join Monza on an outright loan, while negotiations with Nottingham continue over different terms for Morato. Roma's sporting director D'Amico has proposed a loan with a purchase option, but Nottingham want to insert an obligation to buy under certain conditions. Talks were ongoing on 27 August, though Roma will not greenlight Ziółkowski's departure until a replacement arrives from Trigoria. With five days left in the transfer window, D'Amico is working to complete the squad and satisfy head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The defensive reshuffle reflects the club's push to finalize their roster before the market closes.

Roma are restructuring their defence with two loan moves: Jan Ziółkowski is close to joining Monza, while the club have targeted Morato from Nottingham Forest as his replacement. Both transfers would begin as loans, with Roma holding an option to buy Morato and Monza seeking the same clause for Ziółkowski. Ziółkowski, signed from Legia Warsaw a year ago for €6 million, featured 19 times for Roma in the most recent campaign but is no longer a central part of the squad's plans. Monza are eager to make him a regular, though it remains uncertain whether they will exercise their purchase option, having previously considered keeping him rather than selling him to a Saudi club earlier in the summer. Morato, 25, moved to Nottingham Forest from Benfica in 2024 for €11 million and has made 66 appearances since, including 37 in the most recent campaign. Roma targeted him for his versatility—he can play as a left-back if needed—making him a more seasoned contributor than Ziółkowski at this stage. Separately, Roma are working to renegotiate the terms of Jayden Oosterwolde's transfer from Fenerbahce after he requires more recovery time than expected from a thigh injury. There is optimism the deal will proceed regardless. The club are accumulating left-footed defenders, though the Ziółkowski-Morato swap would net a more experienced player while allowing the young talent additional development time before becoming a regular rotation option.

Roma have moved concretely into the race for Franck Kessie, the 29-year-old Ivorian midfielder available on a free transfer after his spell in Saudi Arabia. The club met Kessie's agent George Atangana in Rome on Tuesday with an offer reported to match Juventus's proposal, though Juventus holds the advantage through a preliminary agreement with the player. Roma would need to sell Neil El Aynaoui first to make room, and Kessie's wage demand of approximately €4.5 million per season is considered high against the club's salary structure. El Aynaoui's position remains uncertain in the final days of the window. The feeling between the 25-year-old and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini reportedly never fully blossomed, and Roma could consider selling him if an offer around €30 million arrives—though no such bid has materialized yet. His departure would unlock funds for a midfield reinforcement, with Kessie among the names under evaluation. Meanwhile, attacker Malick Fofana's path has reopened with Lyon's elimination from the Champions League forcing the French club to raise funds. Roma reached agreement with Fofana's representatives some time ago, and the 21-year-old Belgian is awaiting a signal from the club. Lyon is asking around €35 million, a figure within Roma's annual parameters. On the left wing, Roma are monitoring 18-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye, available from Paris Saint-Germain and viewed as a possible alternative should primary options not materialize. Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, 22, remains the main alternative to Fofana for attack reinforcement, but Chelsea rejected Roma's proposal of a loan with a purchase option worth approximately €45 million in total, demanding either a permanent sale or an obligation to buy. Roma continue to keep the channel with London open, though the negotiation is complicated. Defensively, Roma are accelerating for Morato, 25, a central defender at Nottingham Forest earmarked to replace Jan Ziółkowski. A preliminary agreement has been reached; the formula discussed is a loan with a purchase option around €15 million, convertible to an obligation under certain conditions. Ziółkowski's departure to Monza on loan is nearing completion, with economic terms potentially tied to his appearances. A decisive update on left-back Jayden Oosterwolde is expected today after medical checks revealed his biceps femoris injury requires recovery of approximately one to one-and-a-half months—longer than initially indicated by Fenerbahce. Roma have reopened negotiations on the loan structure, discussing possible removal of the loan fee and an increase in the number of appearances required to trigger the purchase obligation from the initially planned 15–20 matches of at least 45 minutes to approximately 25–30.

Serie A's opening matchday of the 2026–27 season has delivered early evidence that new rule changes designed to limit time-wasting are working. According to data from Repubblica, effective playing time rose significantly from 54 minutes 20 seconds in the first matchday of last season to 59 minutes 14 seconds in the just-completed round—an increase of nearly five minutes per match. The shift has drawn approval from Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, though a more permissive interpretation of contact by referees has already sparked controversy. The new regulations include the five-second rule for throw-ins and goal kicks. When a referee judges a player is excessively delaying a throw-in, an official countdown begins; if the ball is not returned to play within five seconds, possession passes to opponents. The same principle applies to goal kicks, where further delay can result in a corner kick awarded to the opposing side. Gasperini, who criticised frequent stoppages and time-wasting tactics during last season, has welcomed the change. After Roma's 4–0 victory over Fiorentina, he said: "That's great, finally we're playing more. It's fantastic." The interpretation of contact has become a point of tension. In Roma's match against Fiorentina, the visitors protested over a challenge involving Mario Hermoso and Franco Mastantuono that preceded Roma's opening goal; the referee ruled it legal. The first matchday thus reveals two sides of the same shift: more ball in play and fewer interruptions, alongside a threshold for referee intervention that will need consistent application across the campaign. The nearly five-minute gain represents an initial signal; coming fixtures will test whether the new model can sustain a more fluid Serie A without multiplying controversy.

Gian Piero Gasperini deployed three different formations during Roma's match against Fiorentina, avoiding the 3-4-2-1 system that defined last season but never abandoning the aggressive one-on-one pressing and intensity that characterise his approach. The tactical adjustments were made to nullify Fiorentina's threats rather than to compensate for transfer market gaps or absences. Gasperini's willingness to shift shape underscores a deeper principle: Roma's behaviour remains unchanged regardless of formation. The side consistently attacks, with N'Dicka operating as a target on the attacking third and Mancini and Hermoso—later replaced by Koulierakis—covering the flanks. Fiorentina manager Grosso began in a 4-3-2-1 before moving to 4-2-4 when Roma went two goals clear. With Kean deployed alongside Pellegrino, Gasperini matched the adjustment with an identical system. The lineup featured Svilar in goal, Lulli, Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso across the back, Cristante and Koné in midfield, and Soulé, Dybala, Malen and Wesley in attack. Soulé had replaced Mora at 2-0. When Grosso shifted to 4-3-3 late on, Gasperini responded by introducing El Aynaoui and Pisilli for Koné and Dybala, switching to a 3-5-1-1. This brought Mancini, N'Dicka and Koulierakis across the back, a five-man midfield of Lulli, Pisilli, Cristante, El Aynaoui and Wesley, with Soulé supporting Castro in attack. Roma scored a fourth goal. Gasperini's track record with such adjustments is long and proven, but the club now needs a right-footed winger capable of providing thrust on the break and winning one-on-one duels. The manager will learn soon whether Chelsea is willing to negotiate for Gittens, and after Lyon play Fenerbahce tomorrow evening, whether an agreement with Fofana can be finalised.

Roma's opening Serie A victory drew a full Stadio Olimpico and inspired the week's match ratings. Donyell Malen emerged as the standout performer, his finishing so prolific that the rater suggested he deserved to take the entire goal frame home with the ball. Rodrigo Mora's competitive debut under Gasperini from the start caught observers off guard; rather than showing nerves, he impressed with his footwork, particularly his right foot. Bryan Cristante delivered a measured, geometric display in midfield, structuring Roma's passing lanes with steady control. Mario Hermoso held his defensive line and regularly blocked Fiorentina's Mastantuono on the wing, occasionally venturing forward in search of space. Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, fielded what the rater described as a laboratory of new signings still seeking cohesion. The visiting side capitulated to Roma from the opening phases without establishing any meaningful attacking principle, despite assembling a squad with considerable investment. Naples, overseen by Allegri, struggled at Genoa; the rater noted that beyond the result itself, the team faced real difficulty and courted dangerous moments that could have proved costly had Roma's attack been more clinical, suggesting the visiting midfield lacked fluidity. Two moments drew specific criticism. De Bruyne's incident at Genoa—described as an elbow strike between the shoulder blades of Vásquez—was framed by the rater as technically a shoulder charge, raising questions about the officiating standard. Separately, pundit Fabio Capello faced scrutiny for suggesting that Gasperini owes everything to Malen for finishing third in the previous campaign, with observers questioning whether Capello applied the same logic to his own trophy wins with Batistuta and Montella. Alexandro Vescini, a DAZN journalist, drew harsh online criticism after stumbling over his words while not realizing he remained on air. The rater noted that many of those attacking him struggled with basic grammar themselves, highlighting a broader problem with online discourse.