Roma radio panel splits on Summerville move as negotiations with West Ham intensify

Roma have rekindled their interest in Genoa forward Schjelderup, according to Sky Sport. The Norwegian, born in 2004, was tracked by the Giallorossi in January but was removed from the market after scoring twice in the Champions League against Real Madrid. The club have not yet made a formal offer, but Schjelderup remains on their list of targets alongside West Ham's Summerville. Schjelderup impressed at international level, recording a goal and three assists at the World Cup and earning recognition as one of his country's standout performers. Roma view him as a potential reinforcement in their attacking ranks as they continue to assess options in the transfer window.

Manu Koné is available for transfer this summer, with Manchester United leading the pursuit of the Roma midfielder. The Premier League club have placed him on their shortlist of midfielders to buy and have already opened contact with his representatives, according to L'Equipe. Arsenal showed interest weeks earlier but have been overtaken in the race by the Red Devils. Koné impressed at the World Cup with France and now faces a decision on his future. Roma have not yet received any formal offers at their training ground, Trigoria, despite the growing interest from England. The 23-year-old midfielder remains on the club's list of players available for sale, meaning his departure cannot be ruled out.

Roma and Inter are both tracking Verona right-back Rafik Belghali as a potential signing, according to reports from France. The 2002-born Algerian defender has impressed in his first Serie A season and recently scored for his national team at a World Cup match against Austria. Belghali could be a candidate to replace Zeki Çelik at Roma, following the defender's unexpected departure to Juventus after a contract renewal fell through.

Paulo Dybala marked Argentina's 1–0 loss to Spain in a World Cup final by honouring Lionel Messi with a heartfelt social media post. The Roma forward shared a photograph of Messi after one of his two goals against England, accompanied by a white heart emoji in celebration of the 10's greatness. Dybala and Messi won the World Cup together in 2022. Despite this latest final ending in defeat for the Argentina squad, the Roma attacker moved quickly to acknowledge his former teammate's stature in the sport. The simple gesture underscored their shared history and Messi's standing as one of football's all-time greats.

Alejandro Garnacho has made clear his preference for a transfer to Roma, rejecting an approach from Fiorentina. The Chelsea winger was officially offered to the Viola, but the Argentine responded with a categorical refusal, with Roma under Gian Piero Gasperini his sole focus. The prospect of playing Champions League football and linking up with fellow countrymen Matías Soulé and Paulo Dybala at Trigoria holds total appeal for the attacker. Roma's sporting director Tony D'Amico has frozen the pursuit for now, with a significant structural gap between the clubs blocking progress. Roma, bolstered by a recent €46 million investment for Summerville, wishes to avoid further balance-sheet strain and is evaluating the deal solely on a loan basis with a right of purchase. Chelsea, by contrast, is pushing for an outright permanent sale to generate immediate revenue. Without concrete financial offers capable of swaying the London club, the operation remains on hold. Roma intends to return to the attack only at the end of the transfer window should Chelsea soften their stance on a temporary arrangement under more favourable terms.

Roma defeated the Primavera side 6–0 in an internal friendly at Trigoria under the watchful eye of director Tony D'Amico, with Paulo Dybala orchestrating the performance. The match was played in four slots under Gasperini's new-look system. Roma struggled initially in the opening 20 minutes, with Artem Dovbyk spurning a clear chance in front of goal. Once Gasperini reshuffled the lineup around the quarter-hour mark, Dybala took control. Matías Soulé opened the scoring by heading in a Dybala cross, before Soulé himself added a second from a Dybala assist at the 44-minute mark. In the second half, Dybala converted a penalty won by Cherubini and added a fifth with a left-footed half-volley from Soulé's assist, demonstrating the twin's telepathic understanding. Bryan Cristante also scored from a distance, with Dovbyk adding the sixth late on. Angeliño featured for just one half, while Wesley played on the right flank in place of the injured Çelik. Hermoso led the defensive line with authority and precision. Gasperini granted the squad a day's rest following the exercise, with training resuming tomorrow at 18:00.

Donyell Malen has commented on an uncanny physical likeness between himself and Samuel, a Roma supporter who has been asked for photos, videos and autographs since the Dutch winger arrived in the capital. Responding to a video posted by Radio Romanista on Instagram, Malen said: "Twin brother!" — drawing attention to the remarkable similarity that has captured fans' attention. The number 14 is currently enjoying his post-World Cup break and awaits his return to action under Gasperini at Roma. The comparison has become a talking point among supporters, with some jokingly warning against confusing the two around the city.

Artem Dovbyk has begun the 2026–27 season at Roma following a lengthy injury layoff that sidelined him from February onwards. The Ukrainian striker was among the squad members who reported for pre-season training at Trigoria, where he appeared in a friendly against the Primavera and scored twice, with a third goal ruled out for a marginal offside decision. Although he was booed by some supporters reflecting his difficult two seasons at the club, Dovbyk now has an opportunity to rehabilitate his Roma career under head coach Gian Piero Gasperini. Dovbyk arrived in summer 2024 from Girona for a total fee of around €36 million, making him one of the most expensive signings in Roma's history. His first season yielded a respectable 17 goals across all competitions in 45 appearances, but the 2025–26 campaign proved far more disappointing, yielding only three Serie A goals in 14 appearances and one assist in European competition before his injury. At 189 cm tall, Dovbyk possesses a distinctly different physical profile from primary striker Donyell Malen and could operate as a relief option or even alongside the Dutch forward in certain tactical moments. His substantial wages make a departure difficult to arrange, but if he remains, Gasperini can deploy him as a reserve to provide cover and potentially relieve pressure on the player.

Summerville has accepted Roma's offer after lowering his financial demands. The Dutch forward, who had hoped to remain in the Premier League but received offers from Saudi Arabia and Turkey, was convinced by the project under head coach Gasperini and by personal intervention from teammate Donyell Malen. Malen, who plays for Roma, contacted Summerville frequently in recent days and had previously spoken with him during the World Cup camp. Malen highlighted his own rapid improvement in Serie A under Gasperini, telling Summerville: "In Serie A and with Gasp you can score many goals. And then there's me...", while praising the club, city, and fanbase. Gasperini himself held multiple conversations with Summerville, who aims to follow the path of Atalanta's Lookman in Italy. Like the Nigerian, Summerville arrives from the Premier League with modest goal tallies. Lookman transformed into a top-level player at Bergamo, attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain and Inter before moving to Atlético Madrid. Roma hopes Summerville can achieve similar development under their new manager.