Roma pushing for Kessié and Fofana as radio shows debate title credentials

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 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.

Roma have accelerated negotiations to sign Morato from Nottingham Forest as a defensive reinforcement. The deal is structured as a loan with a right of purchase that can become an obligation under certain conditions. Morato's arrival would clear the way for Jan Ziółkowski's departure, with Monza waiting to complete the Polish centre-back's move. The two clubs are working through the formula of the transfer, with Monza pushing to include a right of purchase while Roma considers its position. Jayden Oosterwolde's situation has also entered a decisive phase after comprehensive medical checks. Roma and Fenerbahce continue talks, with the club attempting to modify the structure of the operation to reach an agreement. Optimism is filtering through from the negotiations. In midfield, Kessié remains the standout target, though Roma are exploring other profiles. The transfer window is entering its most active phase.

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.

Roma have made a concrete move for Ivorian midfielder Franck Kessié, with the club presenting a contract proposal to his agent on 25 August in an attempt to pre-empt Juventus. The approach marks a significant escalation beyond exploratory contact, as Roma seek to reunite Kessié with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who worked with him at Atalanta. However, no agreement has been reached; Juventus retains the advantage in Kessié's preferences and has intensified talks following Roma's bid. The midfielder, a former Atalanta and Milan player, would strengthen Roma's midfield without requiring a transfer fee. Director Tony D'Amico has moved to establish whether the conditions exist to bring Kessié back to Serie A. The contract terms and Kessié's final response remain undisclosed. Roma remain in contention but currently trail Juventus in the player's calculations. A potential Kessié arrival could trigger a cascade of further market activity. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the signing might alter the status of Neil El Aynaoui, the Moroccan winger who could become available if an economically significant offer materialises. Should El Aynaoui depart, the proceeds would fund Roma's final major attacking objective at a moment when UEFA settlement restrictions are constraining the club's investment capacity. Neither an offer for El Aynaoui nor a definitive Roma decision on his future has been formally tabled. D'Amico's strategy aims to complete Gasperini's requested squad by assembling a free agent midfielder, potentially monetising an attacking player, and reinvesting the funds on an offensive flank—a sequence designed to navigate UEFA's economic controls without collision. The pathway hinges on convincing Kessié to choose Roma over Juventus.

Roma are actively negotiating with Lyon to bring down their asking price for midfielder Aurélien Fofana, according to radio pundit Aspri speaking on Radio Radio on 26 August. Aspri stated that the next 24–48 hours would be crucial in persuading Lyon to lower their valuation. If the deal can be completed, Fofana would become Roma's primary attacking midfield target following the recent arrival of Rodrigo Mora. Aspri explained that Gasperini has clear preferences in midfield but faces a delicate balancing act. "Gasperini has the hierarchies very clear," Aspri said. "If someone like Kessié were to arrive, the midfield would become very substantial. There's Juventus and competition that, on paper, is impractical for Roma, but the news is true. Gasperini's doubts concern Kessié's physical condition — he has great affection for the player, but the operation is complicated and interesting because it would change the hierarchies." Aspri added: "The question is: what does Roma want to aim for? Someone like Kessié you must have." On the Fofana situation, he said: "Roma is trying to trim things to satisfy the board. They're working on Fofana, trying to lower the figure Lyon is asking for: if it can be done, then Fofana will be the 'Lookman' of this situation." Camelio, also speaking on Radio Radio, suggested that Kessié remains a possibility if Neil El Aynaoui departs the club. Camelio stated: "I don't see El Aynaoui concentrated: if he leaves, Kessié is a possibility." He went on to outline his preferred shape: "I would play with four at the back and three midfielders: Kessié, Cristante and Koné." Camelio also noted that Roma are seeking to alter the terms of the Fofana deal with Lyon, which as currently structured Roma had not approved. Other commentators debated the merits of the squad's composition, with Melli arguing Roma are already strong enough and questioning whether Kessié should be pursued at all given Juventus' rival interest. Vocalelli highlighted the broader congestion in Roma's attacking positions: "There's a bit of overbooking in the attacking midfielders: Mora, Dybala, Soulé, Pellegrini and the arrival of Fofana." He suggested that any move to bring in Fofana might be linked to Soulé's potential departure, which would create space in the squad. The discussion underscored that Roma's transfer strategy remains fluid, with decisions on multiple fronts — including the Fofana fee, El Aynaoui's future, and potential outgoings — still unresolved.