Roma's Transfer Window Stalls as Gasperini Waits for First Signing

A meeting is scheduled for Monday regarding Roma's new stadium project. In the transfer market, Roma have made contact with RB Leipzig over winger Nusa, but Leipzig value the player highly and there remains a significant gap between the clubs' valuations. Nusa has not yet opened the door to a Roma move. Roma have also been proposed numerous other wide players, including Luiz Henrique of Zenit, though he was not pursued. Meanwhile, Gian Piero Gasperini and the Roma squad await the return of Lorenzo Pellegrini following injury. The midfielder wants to secure a contract renewal and has accepted reducing his salary, but a key sticking point remains: Pellegrini is pushing for a three-year deal while the club currently offers only two years. Nevertheless, both the player and the club show clear willingness to stay together. After Roma's friendly against Trastevere, Bryan Cristante spoke openly about his teammate, emphasising the squad is waiting for Pellegrini with open arms. Pellegrini was also spotted dining with Gianluca Mancini at a Roman trattoria, a signal of his continued bond with the group. Elsewhere, Roma are tracking Franck Kessié as Juventus pursue the midfielder. Juventus have been in contact for several weeks but no agreement has been reached, with salary and squad integration among points still to be finalised. Roma are prepared to move decisively should Manu Koné depart.

Roma has made Nusa their primary attacking target after missing out on Greenwood and Summerville, but the road to signing the Norwegian winger from Leipzig remains steep. The club has opened initial contact with the Bundesliga side, yet Leipzig continues to resist, particularly given they are already losing Diomande. A significant gap remains between Roma's offer and Leipzig's asking price, while Nusa himself has not yet warmed to a move to the capital. Gasperini views Nusa as the ideal fit for his tactical system, making him an attractive option for Roma's rebuild. However, the combination of Leipzig's reluctance to sell, the valuation dispute, and the player's lack of enthusiasm has made the pursuit challenging. The sense at Roma is that director D'Amico is exploring alternative options as the Nusa deal stalls. One such alternative is Said El Mala, a 2006-born talent from Cologne who appeals to Roma's recruitment team. Cologne value El Mala at approximately 50 million euros, presenting another avenue the club may pursue if the Nusa negotiation fails to progress.

Borussia Dortmund has ended its pursuit of El Mala, clearing a path for Roma to accelerate negotiations for the attacker. Dortmund's offer of €26 million plus €8 million in bonuses to Cologne stalled talks between the two clubs, and the German side has signalled it will not increase its bid or submit a fresh proposal, according to Bild. This development strengthens Roma's position in what has been a complicated transfer window for Gasperini's attacking targets. Roma remains focused on bolstering its forward line after missing out on both Mason Greenwood and Summerville. El Mala has climbed the club's priority list, though Nusa continues to feature prominently in discussions. The main obstacles remain the player's €50 million valuation and broader market competition, though Dortmund's withdrawal reduces immediate pressure. Roma can now pursue the matter with greater freedom, though the club must act quickly to capitalise on the opportunity. With Dortmund stepping back, Roma faces no timeline constraints from rival suitors and should move decisively if serious about signing El Mala.