Roma push continues: Fofana next after Mora, then left-back hunt

AS Roma announced the departure of Luigi Cherubini on a temporary basis to Benevento. The winger, born in 2004, took part in pre-season training under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini before the move. Benevento acquired him on loan. Roma confirmed the transfer via social media with a message of encouragement to the player.

Fiorentina have made contact with Matías Soulé as director Fabio Paratici searches for an offensive winger to complete his squad under head coach Fabio Grosso. The club view Soulé as an ideal tactical asset for their 4–3–3 formation. Roma value the Argentine at approximately 40 million euros, a fee Fiorentina consider prohibitively high and a potential obstacle to any deal. Fiorentina have already recruited nine new players this summer, including Mastantuono, Pellegrino, Atta, and Dragusin. Soulé joined Roma in July 2024 from Juventus for around 28 million euros and has established himself as a key player in Gian Piero Gasperini's squad. The gap between Roma's valuation and Fiorentina's willingness to pay will likely determine whether serious negotiations can progress. Fiorentina now await further developments to assess whether Soulé can become a concrete objective.

Rodrigo Mora is set to complete his move to Roma after the club and Porto agreed a deal on 17 August. The transfer fee stands at €25 million, with Porto retaining 50 per cent of any future sale. That sell-on clause can be removed if Roma pay an additional €25 million next year. Mora is scheduled to land at Ciampino airport at 16:30 on 18 August, followed by medical tests and the signing of a contract through 2031. The Portuguese forward will train with Gian Piero Gasperini's squad from 19 August and could feature in Roma's squad for the Serie A match against Fiorentina at the Olimpico on Monday. Gasperini has identified Mora as a key addition to his attacking options as the squad prepares for the new season. The manager is also pursuing Lyon midfielder Fofana as he continues to reshape the team.

Roma are closing in on Rodrigo Mora from Porto while simultaneously pursuing Malick Fofana from Lyon, signalling an aggressive push to strengthen Gasperini's attack. The Mora transfer is in its final stages, but the club's real ambition lies in landing the Belgian winger Fofana, with whom Roma have already secured player-side agreement. However, Lyon are reluctant to sell before their Champions League playoff against Fenerbahce, with the first leg taking place this evening and the return fixture next Wednesday. Fofana remains a complex target. After an initial attempt to sign him on loan with a conditional obligation to buy, Roma are now prepared to purchase the attacking winger outright for a fee close to €40 million including bonuses. The financial gap between Roma and Lyon must still be bridged. Beyond these two arrivals, Roma continue to seek a left-sided midfielder to provide depth behind Wesley. Discussions with Torino over Cacciamani have stalled, though Tottenham are beginning to consider a loan-with-option move for Udogie. Luis Henrique remains a background option as Gasperini's search for attacking reinforcement extends across multiple targets.

Roma are pursuing three high-profile signings to complete Gian Piero Gasperini's squad, with Rodrigo Mora's arrival imminent. The Portuguese attacking midfielder's transfer from his current club is set at €25 million on a permanent basis, with Roma retaining a 50% sell-on clause that can be cancelled for an additional €25 million within a year. Mora, a 2007-born talent, is expected to arrive in Italy between 18 and 20 August and will earn a rising salary reaching approximately €2.2 million per year. Mendes's agency orchestrated the deal and recently also offered Rafael Leão to Roma, a proposal rejected as outside the club's financial parameters. With Mora secured, Roma have virtually closed negotiations for Malick Fofana on terms of €35 million plus bonuses from Olympique Lyonnais. Initial concerns over Fofana's fitness have been cleared, and Roma are pressing to complete the deal this week despite Lyon's wish to keep him until 26 August for a Champions League playoff return leg against Fenerbahçe. The final piece of Gasperini's rebuilding puzzle is a left-sided full-back to rotate with Wesley, Molina, Rensch and young prospect Lulli. Roma are tracking Cacciamani and Udogie, though Tottenham are unwilling to loan Udogie, while Torino are blocking a sale of their young talent. Roma resume training at Trigoria ahead of Monday's Serie A opener at home against Fiorentina, when Niccolò Pisilli will rejoin the group.

Roma's summer transfer work is far from over, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini signalling his appetite for further additions beyond the arrivals of Castro, Koulierakis and Molina. While the Mora move may defer heavier spending to next summer, the club retains capacity to pursue further signings aligned with Gasperini's tactical requirements, notably Malick Fofana of Olympique Lyonnais. The 21-year-old Belgian attacker remains an active target, with Lyon manager Paulo Fonseca having cleared his departure and the club engaged in talks with Roma. Fofana is valued at 35–40 million euros overall, with his existing salary of approximately 2 million euros fitting Roma's parameters. Gasperini currently has two—and occasionally three—options for most positions, but a significant shortage exists at left-back, where Wesley stands alone. Though Devyne Rensch could theoretically deputise, that scenario is presently ruled out, prompting continued pursuit of alternatives from Tottenham (Udogie), Inter (Luis Henrique) and Torino (Cacciamani). The squad's forward depth across Paulo Dybala and Matías Soulé, combined with Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz—currently viewed as a late-game option pending development—means the Mora signing does not close the conversation on attacking reinforcements.