Roma reject Chelsea's €65m bid for Koné as Gasperini and Friedkin hold firm

Roma have made a strong bid for Juan Cabal, the Colombian left-back currently owned by Juventus, in the final hours of the transfer window. According to Matteo Moretto, the club has moved decisively for the player, who is open to the transfer. Atalanta had pursued Cabal for some time without reaching a conclusion, but Roma are now attempting to overtake them and bring the defender to the Stadio Olimpico. The move addresses a specific tactical requirement identified by Gian Piero Gasperini. While the coach has several attacking full-backs available who can play across the left flank, most are naturally right-footed. Cabal's arrival would provide a left-footed option and add a different profile to the department. The signing would complete the squad in an area Gasperini identified as still needing reinforcement. The opportunity has emerged suddenly with the market closing imminently, and requires urgent attention. Roma must quickly establish the terms of a deal with Juventus and determine whether sufficient room exists to reach an agreement before the transfer window shuts. The path forward depends on how swiftly the giallorossi can move.

Chelsea made a dramatic late bid on transfer deadline day to sign Manu Koné, offering €60 million in total with bonuses included and proposing to send winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to Roma on loan as part of the deal. However, head coach Gian Piero Gasperini refused to let the midfielder leave. According to reports, Gasperini raised an insurmountable wall against the move, even threatening to resign if Koné departed, reiterating his firm stance made after Roma's win against Lecce: "Koné will not go anywhere." The coach views the French midfielder as the cornerstone of his midfield and had no intention of losing him hours before the transfer window closed at 20:00. Gasperini's stance proved decisive in blocking what would have been a significant operation from the English club. Koné remains at Roma, with the midfielder staying at Trigoria as the club giallorosso stood firm in its refusal to part with a key squad member in the final hours of the window. Roma's sporting director, however, did not entirely abandon the pursuit of an attacking reinforcement. In the closing stages of the market, the club moved to separate the Bynoe-Gittens component from the Koné negotiation entirely, attempting to find an independent formula that would allow Gasperini to secure the attacking reinforcement he had been seeking.

Roma's decision to halt negotiations for Oosterwolde has been vindicated after the Dutch player underwent surgery today for a biceps femoris tendon injury. The club's medical staff had flagged the severity of the injury during examinations and advised Fenerbahce of the surgical risk, leading Roma to decline to register him. Fenerbahce council member Cihan Kamer confirmed the development: "The deal with Roma fell through because of Oosterwolde's injury. He is being operated on today." The player is expected to return to action in January.