Roma radio pundits dissect transfer strategy as Nusa links questioned

Summerville has turned down the chance to join Roma, instead signing for Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal under manager Simone Inzaghi. West Ham will receive approximately £65 million for the Dutch winger. Summerville has committed to a contract until 2030 worth £20 million net per season, plus bonuses, totalling around £80 million over the full duration of the agreement. The economic gap between the Giallorossi and the Saudi club proved decisive. Roma could not match the package offered by Al Hilal's petrodollars, leaving the Serie A side to pursue other targets. The club had come close to completing Summerville's arrival before his decision to move to the Middle East instead of continuing his European career and competing in the Champions League. With Summerville now off the table, Roma's recruitment focus shifts. Nusa remains the primary target on the club's shortlist, though El Mala is also being monitored as a potential surprise addition in the current transfer window.

Matteo Salvini, Italy's Infrastructure and Transport Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, has weighed in on speculation linking AC Milan's Rafael Leão to Roma. Speaking on Radio Roma Sound's 'Gli inascoltabili' programme, Salvini — a lifelong Milan supporter — offered a candid assessment of the Portuguese winger's suitability for the Giallorossi. Salvini acknowledged Leão's technical quality and physical attributes but questioned his consistency and mental approach. He said: "When he wants to play, you cannot stop him. The problem is: when does he want to play? For one year, two years, three years, four years he is potentially a champion. After some years, 'potentially' is an adverb that one can no longer use. No one disputes his quality, his technique, but his attitude. On Lazio's bench there is Gattuso, who certainly didn't have Leão's feet, didn't have his physique, his height, his acceleration, but he came off the pitch with three sweaty shirts at the end of the match. So I don't know, I don't comment on the market dealings of others." Salvini also discussed Roma's plans for a new stadium during the interview, reflecting broader infrastructure concerns alongside the club's transfer activity.

Roma's transfer window remains stalled a month into the season, with no new signings completed despite ongoing talks. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has prioritised the signing of a left winger, a position the club has been actively pursuing following the collapse of moves for other targets. Napoli offered Roma the services of Noa Lang, who spent the previous season on loan at Galatasaray and is surplus to requirements under Napoli's new manager Allegri. However, Roma's leadership immediately rejected the proposal, with Gasperini particularly unconvinced by the Dutch winger's profile. The top target remains Antonio Nusa, though RB Leipzig is demanding at least €60 million for the player.

Roma have made their first official offer of approximately €35 million to Brugge for striker Nicolò Tresoldi, but the Belgian club have rejected the approach. The 2004-born Italian-German forward has been identified by head coach Gian Piero Gasperini as a quality alternative to Donyell Malen or a potential partner in a two-striker system. Roma are working across multiple fronts in the transfer market as the league season approaches in roughly a month, with Gasperini still awaiting new additions to his squad. Brugge's stance is to retain Tresoldi, and the club will only consider selling if an offer becomes irresistible. The pursuit reflects Roma's ongoing efforts to strengthen their attacking options ahead of the new campaign. With the window active and concrete bids now being tabled, Roma face the challenge of either increasing their offer or pivoting to alternative targets as they seek to bolster their forward line.

Vice-president Ryan Friedkin arrived at Roma's Trigoria training ground on 14 July to inject momentum into the summer transfer window, having successfully brokered deals during his January visit — most notably the arrival of Donyell Malen, who played a central role in Roma's push to the Champions League. This summer's mission has proved less fruitful. Two primary targets, Greenwood and Summerville, have already fallen through, with the American ownership expressing doubts about spending €50 million on the latter. Roma have also suffered the blow of Çelik signing with Juventus despite an oral agreement being in place. Gasperini had been awaiting Friedkin's arrival on 13 July, the first day of pre-season. With the window stalling, Friedkin has already returned to the United States within the past 48 hours, and no return date has yet been set. He may attend Cannes–Roma, a pre-season friendly between the two Friedkin-owned clubs, on Sunday, though that remains uncertain. The new transfer target is now Nusa, and Ryan will monitor negotiations from afar.

Roma's ownership structure continues to hamper the club's ability to complete signings quickly, with the Friedkin family's distance from day-to-day operations and lengthy decision-making processes costing the club priority targets. Head coach Gasperini and sporting director D'Amico had identified Greenwood as a key target, but bureaucratic delays allowed Fenerbahçe to move faster and secure the player instead. Similar patterns have recurred across multiple transfer windows: under Mourinho, moves for Xhaka and McTominay stalled; under Ghisolfi and De Rossi, Konè and Saelemaekers arrived only on the final day of the market (Saelemaekers on loan, partly due to late timing); and under Massara, deals involving Rios and Sancho evaporated. Al-Hilal's sudden intervention for Summerville further highlighted how Roma struggles to compete when Eastern clubs inject massive resources. With the campaign beginning in one month, Roma faces significant squad gaps: a left winger remains unsigned (with Nusa becoming the latest protracted saga), and the club still needs two full-backs, a backup for Malen, and another senior attacking midfielder. The ownership's pattern of delayed approvals for financial commitments, compounded by ongoing settlement agreements and wage-bill constraints, means Roma enters the season undermanned. Gasperini and D'Amico had prepared the groundwork, awaiting only the owner's cheque. As Roma heads into its centenary year with Champions League qualification as an objective, the structural delay in decision-making threatens to undermine those ambitions from the outset.

Gian Piero Gasperini is closely monitoring Mandjou Camara, a 2009-born Guinean forward who made an impression in Roma's friendly against Trastevere. The match saw Roma field a largely youth-team lineup, with only Gollini, Ziółkowski, Ghilardi, Angeliño and Dovbyk from the senior squad on the pitch. While Arena scored, Camara stole the spotlight with several impressive moments despite not finding the net. During the second half, Gasperini's assistant Gritti positioned himself on the right flank to guide Camara's movements, calling out instructions such as "Drop back", "Shoot", and "Don't stay too deep". Camara is expected to join Roma's pre-season training camp in Wales, giving Gasperini further opportunity to assess his development. Camara arrived at Roma as the final signing from the youth academy oversight of Alberto De Rossi, who departed the club on 30 June after more than 32 years. Roma acquired him on a free transfer after he left SPAL. He began the season in the Under 17 category before being promoted to the Under 18 squad under Mattia Scala, who now coaches the Primavera. In thirty matches, Camara has registered eleven goals and nine assists. His one-on-one ability and dribbling have impressed Gasperini, who is working to facilitate his next step forward, though some technical refinement remains needed. Vinicius Junior is his inspiration.

Roma are pushing to sign Nicolò Tresoldi from Club Brugge as they hunt for a deputy to Donyell Malen. An in-principle agreement has been reached with the 2004-born forward to fend off competition from Borussia Dortmund and Atlético Madrid. Crucially, Tresoldi's father is backing the move to Italy, strengthening Roma's hand in negotiations. The sticking point remains Brugge's valuation. Sporting director D'Amico has offered 25 million euros, but the Belgian club is demanding a further 10 million on top. If the Tresoldi deal stalls, Roma have identified Riccardo Castro of Bologna as an alternative, though the Emilia-Romagna side are demanding 40 million euros. Meanwhile, Roma are also reshaping their striker options: Artem Dovbyk is available for departure, and academy product Robinio Vaz could move out on loan.

Roma have completed zero signings a month before their Serie A opener against Fiorentina, leaving Gian Piero Gasperini pressing urgently for reinforcements to complete an attacking unit beset by uncertainties. Paulo Dybala remains a key resource but is hampered by physical fitness concerns, while Matías Soulé is viewed as a potential departure due to tactical doubts from the coach and a desire to refresh the wing positions, pending concrete offers. Donyell Malen is currently the only established attacking option with clear status at the club. The club is pursuing multiple targets across the frontline. A centre-forward is being sought for Champions League football, with Tresoldi as the primary option alongside Bologna's Castro; Artem Dovbyk's future and young Robinio Vaz's status—split between staying and a possible loan—remain fluid. On the flanks, Antonio Nusa of Leipzig has been identified as the preferred choice for the attacking midfield role but faces obstacles from high valuations and strong Premier League interest. Alternatives Godts and Paixão remain under consideration but are viewed as less convincing options. Summerville has fallen away from contention. Tony D'Amico has reopened contact for Nusa, while the transfer window remains wide open with less than a month to deadline.