Roma target Molina and Dodo as replacements for Celik

Roma have tabled a fresh offer for Zenit Saint Petersburg winger Luiz Henrique in the closing stages of the transfer window, signalling the club's determination to land an attacking reinforcement for coach Gian Piero Gasperini. The new proposal is worth approximately €38 million in fixed fees plus €5 million in add-ons, for a total potential value near €43 million, according to ESPN Brasil. This represents a significant increase on Roma's previous bid, which Zenit rejected when it stood at around €38 million overall; Roma restructured the deal to boost the guaranteed component. The renewed push for Luiz Henrique comes after the transfer track appeared to have stalled in recent hours. Simultaneously, Roma continue to pursue Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling as an alternative avenue. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is working both leads without yet establishing a clear hierarchy between the two targets. The timing carries additional weight: Roma recently cleared the way for forward Robinio Vaz to leave after initially blocking his departure pending the arrival of a replacement, a move the article frames as a potential signal of the club's confidence in closing at least one of the two deals in the coming days. Both pursuits underscore Roma's commitment to bolstering their attacking options. The elevated offer for Luiz Henrique demonstrates the club's willingness to invest substantially, while the Leweling option remains concrete. As of now, neither deal is finalized—Zenit have not accepted Roma's improved proposal—and the next phase will clarify which path is more likely to reach completion.

Roma have given the green light for Robinio Vaz to join Hull City on loan, with the young forward set to undergo medical examinations on 1 September. The move will be structured as a loan deal worth €2 million, with Hull City holding a purchase option valued at €30 million. Vaz's departure had been temporarily blocked by Roma and head coach Gian Piero Gasperini, who wanted assurances over an attacking reinforcement before allowing another forward to leave. The clearance now comes with the club still active in the final hours of the transfer window to strengthen the offensive department. Gasperini and Roma felt it necessary to secure a replacement before sanctioning any further exits from that area of the squad. According to Fabrizio Romano, Vaz has been authorised to travel to England. The move offers the French forward an opportunity to find greater playing time in the Premier League, joining a Hull City side that has made a strong start to the campaign with two victories in their opening two fixtures.

Roma have given Robinio Vaz permission to travel to England for medical examinations with Hull City, scheduled for 1 September. The French forward will join the Premier League club on a paid loan worth €2 million with a purchase option set at €30 million. Vaz, a class of 2007 player, will link up with a Hull side that have won both of their opening fixtures this season. Gasperini and Roma had blocked the transfer in recent hours while waiting to secure a replacement. The club's authorization of Vaz's departure is viewed as a potential indication that negotiations are advancing for Leweling, another target on the club's radar.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has identified a striker and a left-back as the remaining pieces needed to complete the squad ahead of tomorrow's away fixture at Lecce. Gasperini said: "To complete the team we need a piece that closes that section. A left-back and a forward have remained. Lulli has filled in somewhat, I have always believed in him, he is giving important responses but we cannot load such large responsibilities on him. Last season we had Angeliño, Tsimikas, Çelik, Wesley and also Rensch." Gasperini has most of his squad available for the trip to Via del Mare, with Lorenzo Pellegrini and Devyne Rensch expected to return to group training next week. Leonardo Balerdi was officially confirmed as a new arrival this morning, joining fellow recent additions Konstantinos Koulierakis, Rodrigo Mora, Santiago Castro and Nahuel Molina among the squad.

Former Roma and Lecce player Gigi Garzya has warned that Roma must be ready for an opponent who gives nothing away when the sides meet on Monday. Speaking ahead of the match, Garzya praised Lecce's performance in their opening away win at Venezia, saying the team of Di Francesco "remained in the game with the right mentality and lucidity that weighed heavily in the final half-hour". He highlighted Olaf Gorter as a player who impressed with both quality and personality, and noted the arrival of Ilić as evidence of Lecce's focus on adding strength in the transfer market. On Roma's prospects under Gian Piero Gasperini in his second season, Garzya acknowledged the squad has been reinforced, though he described Zeki Çelik's departure as a "heavy" loss—while backing Nahuel Molina to compensate with his quality and competitive drive. He was effusive about midfielder Rodrigo Mora, saying: "Technically he has numbers that make him an important prospect; one characteristic struck me more than others: he is the type of player you do not see frequently in the various leagues, because his thinking arrives first, and consequently he then makes the ball travel in an unpredictable way for opponents. When people say he is a bit light physically, they forget that the most important characteristic is playing the ball always with some instant of anticipation for whoever controls it." On the defence, Garzya explained that Konstantinos Koulierakis represents a deliberate and necessary choice rather than mere cover: "This year, with the Champions League, you need at least six established defenders in the department, calculating also that the game starts from the back, there are so many matches and Gasperini's football is very demanding in every role. The choice was targeted; the Roma coach never approves a signing just to make up numbers." Regarding Roma's ambitions, Garzya urged caution: "It is too early to say and ultimately the transfer market may not be finished yet; let's also see what the others do by the close; certainly you must do everything to maintain Champions League qualification, because Roma must play this competition regularly. Then we'll see if appetite comes with eating."

The relationship between head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and sporting director Ricky Massara deteriorated throughout the 2025–26 season, marked by clashing views on transfer strategy, public criticism and mounting friction that became irreparable. Massara, who felt treated as an amateur despite his substantial track record, endured difficult months in silence, though tension grew steadily. The conflict began last summer during negotiations for Sancho and Fabio Silva, then escalated in late August when Massara said "Sancho at the moment remains a suggestion because I don't think there are the conditions or the motivations," while Gasperini later replied: "Sancho never refused Roma." The situation exploded in early September during a heated discussion at Fulvio Bernardini, where Gasperini accused Massara of being too slow in negotiations, dismissing the restrictions imposed by Financial Fair Play and inherited difficulties. Disputes over specific targets fuelled the rift further: Gasperini's veto on Raspadori, his preference for Malen over Zirkzee, and disagreements over Robinio Vaz. The breakdown continued from a distance after Massara moved to Juventus, with the director's pursuit of Zeki Çelik irritating Roma while Gasperini attempted to insert himself into the Juventus deal for Kessié. The definitive rupture came in spring, when Gasperini rejected Kerim Alajbegovic and made his position clear: having secured the departure of Ranieri, he wanted Massara gone as well to remain at Roma.

Roma's fourth goal in their second league match of the season came under VAR review after Lecce players appealed for handball against Molina, but the incident was ruled regular. The match officials were: Chiffi (referee), Di Paolo (VAR), Paganessi (assistant VAR), with Imperiale and Cecconi as line assistants and Di Bello as fourth official. Roma had taken the lead early when Dybala struck from a fortunate rebound after being in a regular position when the ball came to him. The second goal arrived after 23 minutes when Wesley provided a cross for Malen, who was in a regular position and beat Falcone. Malen received a yellow card in the eighth minute for handball.

Roma line up in a 3-4-1-2 formation for their second Serie A match of the season at Lecce on Monday, 31 August, with Matías Soulé replacing Rodrigo Mora in attack as the only change from their opening-day win over Fiorentina. The side shows Mile Svilar in goal, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso in defence, Emanuele Lulli and Bryan Cristante in midfield with Manu Koné, Wesley providing width, Soulé in the No. 10 role and Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen as forwards. Gian Piero Gasperini keeps the bulk of the XI unchanged, with Nahuel Molina, Leonardo Balerdi and Marten de Roon among those on the bench. Lecce, managed by Di Francesco, set out in a 4-3-3 with Falcone in goal and deploy Ndaba, Gaspar, Siebert and Veiga across their back four.

Roma defeated Lecce 4–0 in the second round of Serie A on 31 August, extending their winning streak to six consecutive league matches. Donyell Malen scored three goals — at 4 minutes, 23 minutes and 65 minutes — while Matías Soulé added the fourth at 24 minutes. The match was played at a 27,031 attendance. Gasperini fielded an unchanged starting XI from Roma's opening 4–0 victory over Fiorentina. The defence lined up as Ghilardi, Mancini and Hermoso across the back, with Wesley on the left flank. Emanuele Lulli started at right-back, winning the pre-match competition with Nahuel Molina for the spot. In midfield, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné anchored the side, with Matías Soulé operating as number 10 behind the striker pairing of Paulo Dybala and Malen. Rodrigo Mora was named in the forward line, rotating with Soulé. Evan N'Dicka suffered an adductor injury during the warm-up and was unavailable. Roma's six-game winning run now comprises the final five matches of the 2025–26 season plus the 2026–27 opening day against Fiorentina. The club has registered only one previous run of seven consecutive league wins in the past decade: a streak between February and March 2025 under former manager Claudio Ranieri. Lecce have lost 28 of their 40 Serie A fixtures against Roma — only Inter have inflicted more defeats on the Salento side in the top flight, with 32 losses. Roma have scored 85 goals against Lecce in Serie A; again, only Inter have conceded more to Roma in the league, with 94. Despite awaiting further transfer activity, Gasperini's focus remained solely on the Lecce fixture. Devyne Rensch and Lorenzo Pellegrini were rested and unavailable; Rensch will return to action from next week and face Atalanta, while Pellegrini is targeting a return by mid-month. Robinio Vaz was absent for transfer reasons, positioned at the edge of a move to Hull City. Leonardo Balerdi and Marten de Roon made their first competitive calls.