Radio Roma: Mora talks stall as debate rages over transfer strategy

Roma continue to monitor Assane Diao as a potential reinforcement for their attack this summer. The 2005-born Como winger has emerged back on the Giallorossi's radar as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini seeks a right-footed left winger, with difficulties surrounding the Mora deal prompting the search for alternative targets. Diao's quality and talent are not in question, but injury concerns have troubled the Roma board following his lengthy muscular layoff—a hamstring lesion—last season. Como have no intention of letting Diao leave easily, with the club's valuation of the player sitting between €25–30 million. The prospect of acquiring him remains complicated, but Roma's continued monitoring suggests he remains a candidate in the wider pool of options as the window remains open. Whether the fee and injury history will prompt Roma to pursue the deal further is uncertain, though Gasperini's specific tactical requirements for the left flank mean such reinforcement remains a priority.

Galatasaray has submitted an official offer of €45 million to Arsenal for Gabriel Martinelli, a target Roma have tracked in the current transfer window. The Turkish club moved decisively for the Brazilian forward after abandoning their pursuit of Rafael Leao, and the proposal is now on the table. Arsenal, however, has not yet approved the deal, with the London club unconvinced by the terms. Martin­elli represents one of several attacking options Roma have considered this summer, and his arrival would have appealed to the Giallorossi fanbase. The Galatasaray approach has complicated Roma's hopes significantly. The forward's consent is also required before any move can proceed; he has not been reported to have agreed terms with the Turkish side. Roma continue to monitor the situation. Arsenal's reluctance to sell at the offered price leaves a small window of opportunity, though Galatasaray's strong push and the €45 million bid on the table represent genuine competition. The player currently sits far from the Eternal City, but the deal remains unresolved pending Arsenal's final decision and Martinelli's own position.

Paulo Sergio, the Brazilian forward who played for Roma from 1997 to 1999, has endorsed Real Madrid's Endrick as a potential signing for the club, saying he could thrive under head coach Gasperini. Sergio, who scored 12 goals in Serie A in each of his two seasons in the Giallorossi, told Forzaroma.info that the young Brazilian talent possesses the right qualities for Roma's system. "He is an excellent player," Sergio said. "In Brazil he performed very well, at Madrid he has had a couple of difficulties, but that is normal for a boy his age. At Lyon he has demonstrated his value and at Roma he could be important." Sergio emphasised Endrick's work rate and tactical discipline as key strengths. "He is someone who fights, who presses and gives everything for the team. He can do very well with Gasperini," he added. Endrick currently remains at Real Madrid, with the Spanish club committed to keeping him. Roma's sporting director D'Amico continues to monitor the player, recognising that he could align well with Gasperini's demanding tactical approach. Sergio highlighted Endrick's proven pedigree, noting his strong performances with Palmeiras in Brazil before his move to the Bernabéu. Roma can only observe the situation for now, but should Madrid open a door to a departure, the club would be positioned to pursue a deal.

Bryan Zaragoza remains without a club after his disappointing spell at Roma, currently sidelined at Bayern Munich and outside Vincent Kompany's plans. The winger is seeking a return to Spain, where Espanyol director of football Monchi has identified him as a target. Alaves and several Arab clubs are also monitoring his availability, leaving his future uncertain. Zaragoza's time at Roma failed to impress Gasperini, who used him sparingly throughout the campaign. He spent three weeks sidelined by injury in the run-in, further limiting his impact in the giallorosso shirt. His struggles in Italy have prompted his exit from the Bavarian club's immediate plans.

Roma's attacking department has been decimated ahead of the 2026–27 season, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini now overseeing just five senior forwards for the role — down from ten options at the end of January. The remaining quartet consists of Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, and Robinio Vaz, with young prospect Arena also available. The collapse mirrors Gasperini's repeated public calls for investment in attack. Speaking exactly a year ago on 4 August 2025 at the English national team's St. George Park facility in Burton Upon Trent, Gasperini outlined his philosophy: "It concerns all clubs that spend large sums on attackers. The offensive department is the most sought after and most expensive. Teams with strong attacking players are more competitive." That same summer, Roma pursued Fabio Silva and Jadon Sancho without success, settling on a loan move for Romain Bailey as a last-minute solution. By the end of 2025, Roma had assembled eight attacking options — Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Soulé, Baldanzi, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — to fill three positions in Gasperini's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. The winter transfer window swelled that number to ten through the departures of Bailey and Baldanzi and the arrivals of Malen, Vaz, Bryan Zaragoza, and Lorenzo Venturino. However, only Malen performed consistently. With just twenty days until the league campaign begins, Roma faces a critical shortage. The club is reportedly making another approach for Nusa and preparing a move for Fofana to bolster the depleted ranks.

Roma must accelerate their transfer business, and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified the left flank as a priority area after disappointing performances from Bailey and Zaragoza. Antonio Nusa of Leipzig has been the club's primary target in recent weeks, but the German side's unwillingness to sell—stemming from their sale of Diomande to Real Madrid—has complicated negotiations. The Norwegian winger is pushing for a move, but Leipzig are demanding €60 million. Roma has set themselves a deadline; if Leipzig do not show openness in the coming hours, the club will pivot to alternative targets. Among the options being explored are Premier League players Savinho of Manchester City and Adingra of Sunderland, with Savinho potentially available on a loan deal with a buyout clause given the competitive situation at City and his desire for regular playing time. Godo of Strasbourg and Bahoya of Eintracht Frankfurt remain in reserve, as does the possibility of Rafa Leão, though the AC Milan winger would need to lower his wage demands. Reports also suggest Roma's director D'Amico may be working on a surprise move behind the scenes, similar to the groundwork done for signings such as Koulierakis and Read.

Roma's attacking department has been decimated ahead of the 2026–27 season, with coach Gian Piero Gasperini now overseeing just five senior forwards for the role — down from ten options at the end of January. The remaining quartet consists of Donyell Malen, Paulo Dybala, Matías Soulé, and Robinio Vaz, with young prospect Arena also available. The collapse mirrors Gasperini's repeated public calls for investment in attack. Speaking exactly a year ago on 4 August 2025 at the English national team's St. George Park facility in Burton Upon Trent, Gasperini outlined his philosophy: "It concerns all clubs that spend large sums on attackers. The offensive department is the most sought after and most expensive. Teams with strong attacking players are more competitive." That same summer, Roma pursued Fabio Silva and Jadon Sancho without success, settling on a loan move for Romain Bailey as a last-minute solution. By the end of 2025, Roma had assembled eight attacking options — Dybala, Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, Bailey, Soulé, Baldanzi, Stephan El Shaarawy, and Lorenzo Pellegrini — to fill three positions in Gasperini's preferred 3-4-2-1 formation. The winter transfer window swelled that number to ten through the departures of Bailey and Baldanzi and the arrivals of Malen, Vaz, Bryan Zaragoza, and Lorenzo Venturino. However, only Malen performed consistently. With just twenty days until the league campaign begins, Roma faces a critical shortage. The club is reportedly making another approach for Nusa and preparing a move for Fofana to bolster the depleted ranks.

Roma find themselves in unexpected stasis on the transfer market one month before their Serie A opener against Fiorentina, hampered by slow planning, a complex summer constrained by Settlement Agreement rules, and difficulty delivering the reinforcements Gian Piero Gasperini has requested. As of late July, Roma had completed zero signings and just one minor departure, leaving six players from last season's squad still to be replaced: El Shaarawy, Ferguson, Tsimikas, Celik, Venturino, and Zaragoza. The club also has several players ready to depart—Salah-Eddine, Kumbulla, and Dovbyk among them—while others including Soulé and Koné remain uncertain. Contract complications surround Dybala, and Pellegrini's position requires clarification. Delays stem from structural issues worsened by Tony D'Amico's late arrival as sporting director, who became operational only in the final ten days of June following a dispute with Atalanta, compounded by World Cup scheduling and Settlement Agreement restrictions. Gasperini intends to compete at the highest level while preserving the squad's core and adding only a few elite signings. Roma pursued Mason Greenwood and Luis Summerville at length, becoming committed to the Dutch player beyond their budgeted limits before the deal collapsed entirely.

Roma are pursuing Summerville to fill the most glaring weakness in Gian Piero Gasperini's tactical system. The club has identified a right-footed attacking winger—capable of playing as a trequartista or winger on the left—as the top priority for the new season, with sporting director D'Amico now working alongside Gasperini to address the gap. The void has persisted for seasons. Throughout August, the club sought a loan deal for a right-footed attacking option without success, pursuing targets including Fabio Silva (who remained at his club with one year remaining on his contract) and Jadon Sancho via videoconference. January brought only unsuccessful temporary deals for Bryan Zaragoza and Lorenzo Venturino, alongside the unproven centre-forward gamble of Robinio Vaz, signed for €25 million. Summerville's arrival would finally remedy what has been an obvious deficiency in Roma's attacking setup under Gasperini.