Roma target Moreira for left flank as Gasperini seeks €40m deal

AS Roma are monitoring Rafael Leão's situation at AC Milan as a potential option in the closing stages of the summer transfer window, according to SportMediaset. The Portuguese forward remains under consideration should he fail to leave the Rossoneri before the market shuts, with Roma potentially exploring a deal structured around €45 million. Any operation could include a paid loan arrangement as part of the overall package. Jorge Mendes, Leão's agent, is expected to play an important role in any negotiations. Mendes was instrumental in bringing Rodrigo Mora to Roma and could prove decisive in discussions between the two clubs. However, no agreement currently exists between Roma and Milan, and Leão remains a prospect to monitor only in the final days of the transfer window rather than an imminent signing.

Bologna are monitoring Roma defender Jan Ziółkowski and Daniele Ghilardi as potential departures from the Giallorossi in the final days of the transfer window. Roma's defensive ranks have become crowded following the acquisitions of Koulierakis and the imminent arrival of Oosterwolde, creating the possibility that Gasperini could allow players to leave in search of greater playing time while generating revenue for the club. Both Ziółkowski and Ghilardi occupied lower positions in the manager's hierarchy last season and are regarded as potential exits. Ziółkowski has attracted strong interest from Saudi Arabia, while Ghilardi could remain in Italy. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the latter has become a target for Bologna, who are seeking a new centre-back following Lucumì's departure. Bologna hold genuine interest in the player, though no formal negotiations have yet been initiated. The situation is expected to develop in the coming days.

Manu Koné will remain at Roma after Manchester City closed a deal for Lille prospect Bouaddi worth €100 million, ending speculation over the French midfielder's future. City had been searching for a Rodri replacement and had scouted Koné, keeping the door open to a potential move, but the signing of Bouaddi removes that possibility entirely. Gasperini confirmed yesterday in a press conference that Koné would stay, and the transfer developments now settle any remaining doubt. Koné will continue as Roma's central midfielder under the head coach. Roma's next fixture arrives shortly, with Fiorentina awaiting from Monday onwards.

Roma's Serie A campaign begins on Monday 24 August against Fiorentina at the Olimpico, with kick-off at 20:45. Gian Piero Gasperini will field a squad built largely on last season's core, with few new faces starting from the outset. Molina is guaranteed a place; Mora is in contention with Soulé for a spot, while Castro and Koulierakis start on the bench. Malen and Dybala lead the attack, with Koné expected to partner Cristante in midfield and Wesley operating on the left. Defence will feature the familiar trio of Mancini, N'Dicka and Hermoso. The fixture is a significant early test for the Giallorossi as the new season opens. Gasperini's approach reflects continuity from the previous campaign, suggesting a measured start to the 2026–27 season with incremental integration of new arrivals rather than wholesale changes to the starting eleven. Roma–Fiorentina, the first-round match of Serie A Enilive, will be broadcast live on DAZN and as a co-exclusive on Sky Sport. Viewers will need a DAZN subscription and can access it via the app on smart TV, Xbox, PlayStation, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast or TIM VISION Box. Live coverage and updates will also be available through Forzaroma.info's live text service and the club's social media channels on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Gasperini is preparing Roma's opening lineup for Monday's visit of Fiorentina, with the shape of his team already taking clearer form in the final days of the transfer window. The Stadio Olimpico will host Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, who despite their youth and last season's league position will present a stern test. Gasperini has identified Fiorentina's preference for a 4-3-3 setup during summer friendlies and is likely to counter with a 3-4-1-2 formation against their four-man defence, adapting his usual structure. That system would see Rodrigo Mora operating as the trequartista behind the Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen partnership, a position where the Argentine could make an immediate impact and deliver more options than Matías Soulé offers from the left flank. The formation can shift to a 3-4-2-1 during play when Malen presses higher up the pitch. Gasperini will keep some selection decisions until the final stages of Monday's match. Wesley and Molina appear set for the right flank, while Kostas Tsimikas contests the left-back role against Mario Hermoso for a starting place. The central defensive duel between Evan N'Dicka and Fiorentina's Kean will be a critical battleground — N'Dicka has struggled more than usual against Kean's pace and explosive moments from his time at Juventus. Fiorentina's Arthur Atta will be their wildcard variable, looking to disrupt Roma's defensive shape by dropping deep and unsettling the back line. Molina will have dual duties: creating danger down the flank through his runs while containing the constant forward drives of Valdepeñas. The final training session takes place this afternoon at Trigoria, where remaining selection dilemmas—including the Mora-Soulé contest and the Cristante-Neil El Aynaoui decision—will be resolved. Gasperini continues to wait for one more attacking wide player with different characteristics from Mora during the summer window. Monday brings the first competitive test of the season, a tactical chess match between two managers with distinct philosophies and clear identities. Roma will need a strong start in a title race that this year features more Champions League contenders than ever before.

Roma's transfer activity intensified on 23 August as the club pursued multiple attacking reinforcements and worked towards securing defender Jayden Oosterwolde from Fenerbahce. The summer window remains fluid, with a cluster of targets under active consideration and potential departures that could unlock further investment. Roma has made Jamie Bynoe-Gittens the principal target to complete the attack. Chelsea rejected the initial giallorossi proposal of €3 million for a loan plus €40 million for a permanent option, partly because manager Xabi Alonso views the English winger as an important alternative to Morgan Rogers. Roma's director of football D'Amico is not abandoning the pursuit: a fresh round of talks is scheduled in the coming days to establish whether there is room to reopen negotiations and potentially present a more attractive offer. Several other attacking options remain under review. Ibrahim Mbaye, the 18-year-old Paris Saint-Germain winger, has been discussed in recent hours as a candidate compatible with Roma's new financial parameters following the settlement agreement, though no formal negotiations have begun with PSG. Jean-Mattéo Bahoya, the 21-year-old Eintracht Frankfurt winger, is also among the alternatives being weighed by D'Amico should the primary left-wing pursuits stall. Pedro Henrique, a 20-year-old Zenit winger, was recently proposed to Roma, though this remains merely a candidacy with no concrete move reported. Malick Fofana, the 21-year-old Lyon left-winger, has not been permanently ruled out despite the operation being blocked; if the French club accepts more sustainable financial terms and Roma fails to secure another winger in the final days, D'Amico could attempt to reopen talks. In midfield, Roma initiated contact with Brighton over Yasin Ayari, the 22-year-old Swedish midfielder, though Borussia Dortmund is also keen and ready to pursue a permanent deal, whereas Roma is considering a loan with a purchase option—a formula that clashes with Brighton's valuation of approximately €45 million. Oosterwolde's arrival is imminent. The 25-year-old Fenerbahce left-back will join on a loan costing roughly €3 million, with a purchase option convertible to an obligation if certain conditions are met, for a total operation worth approximately €17–18 million. The player's agreement is already finalised. Gasperini sees him as Wesley's understudy but considers him adaptable to central defence; Oosterwolde is currently sidelined by a muscle injury and is expected to be available around mid-September. Defender Jan Ziółkowski's future may lie elsewhere; several Saudi clubs and Neom in particular are monitoring the 21-year-old Polish centre-back, from whom Roma expects a concrete offer. Roma's valuation sits between €16 and €20 million, with 10 per cent of any future resale owed to Legia Warsaw. Any sale could finance the final outfield signing. Daniele Ghilardi, the 23-year-old defender, has also attracted Bologna's interest and could become another casualty in the rearguard alongside Ziółkowski; if either centre-back departs, Roma would re-enter the market for a replacement, preferably on loan.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's transfer approach at his pre-match press conference on 22 August, two days before the Serie A opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico. The coach confirmed that UEFA financial regulations have forced a strategic shift in the market, compounding constraints that stem from years of previous spending. "The profile is only that of UEFA; there are no other possibilities," Gasperini said. "There are situations that UEFA imposes and from which our ownership, even wanting to, cannot escape. I thought that after six months or with arrival in the Champions League the situation would be resolved, but it is not so." Gasperini emphasised that Roma remain the only Italian club currently under UEFA supervision. "Roma has already had two deferrals and probably cannot have any more," he noted. "Now the reckoning has arrived, but we will do well anyway." Despite those constraints, he expressed satisfaction with arrivals in the window. Álex Molina replaced Zeki Çelik after winning the World Cup two months earlier; Christos Koulierakis joined as a defensive profile the squad lacked; and Rodrigo Mora arrived as a young long-term investment. Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson departed, replaced by Mateo Castro. El Shaarawy, Bryan Zaragoza, Angeliño and Kostas Tsimikas also left. Gasperini stated: "All the players who arrived have strongly wanted to come to Roma. They have also reduced their salaries—and under this aspect I believe very positive work has been done. There are still ten days of the market left and we hope to complete everything." On the left wing position that Roma had pursued, Gasperini offered flexibility: "Only if he can be added value, otherwise I am not going to load myself with players just for the sake of it." Numerically, two squad slots remain available from a full complement of 23. He praised Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante for accepting significant wage cuts. On Dybala's fitness prospects, Gasperini said: "I am certain, because I see him not only determined as he was last year but also particularly strong. He completed a pre-season perhaps for the first time without injuries." Dybala suffered two serious injuries last season—one requiring meniscus surgery that sidelined him for three and a half months. Gasperini stated that further squad exits may follow only if they represent tactical switches rather than pure departures. "If there are other exits it is only for changes, to switch," he said. "In this moment there is nothing certain." The window closes in ten days. Roma finished last season on 73 points and third place in Serie A, but Gasperini stressed the slate resets: "Every year you start from zero. What was done was very positive and satisfactory for all, but when the season starts everyone begins at 0 points and the 73 points from last year must be played again."

Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference on 22 August ahead of Roma's opening Serie A match against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico in two days' time. The head coach confirmed that four new players have joined the club this summer: Molina, who won the World Cup and reached the final two months ago and can replace Ferguson; Castro, who reportedly travelled by train to join earlier; Koulierakis, a defender with characteristics the squad lacked; and Mora, a young forward. Gasperini said he remained very satisfied with the new arrivals, noting that "they all strongly wanted Roma, with Castro even leaving by train to arrive sooner." He confirmed that several players have departed—El Shaarawy, Venturino, Zaragoza, Angeliño and Tsimikas among them—and stated the club will reduce the squad while making it more competitive. The wage bill has been lowered by necessity, which Gasperini described as positive work by the club. Roma currently have 23 players registered, with two squad slots still available under UEFA rules, and Gasperini expressed hope of completing further business in the remaining ten days of the window. On Mora specifically, Gasperini said: "Mora is a very young lad who has already reached important numbers. Two years ago at Porto he reached ten goals. For the club it is a very important investment, especially in prospect—he has all the characteristics to emerge and do well." The coach acknowledged that investing in youth can be a necessary path, describing it as a positive element for the club's future.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference on 22 August ahead of Roma's Serie A opener against Fiorentina on Monday evening at the Stadio Olimpico, addressing the club's transfer activity and the constraints imposed by UEFA's Financial Fair Play rules. The head coach confirmed that four players have arrived this summer—Molina, Castro, Koulierakis, and Rodrigo Mora—while Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson have departed and others including Stephan El Shaarawy, Bryan Zaragoza, and Lorenzo Venturino have left. Angeliño and Kostas Tsimikas have also exited, leaving gaps Gasperini hopes to fill. Despite the arrivals, Gasperini said the squad remains numerically incomplete, with two open roster slots out of a possible 23-player matchday squad. Gasperini expressed satisfaction with the calibre of incoming players, noting that "Molina is an important player, a world champion already mature and solid" and that Castro "took the train" to join Roma. On Mora, the 21-year-old Argentine forward, Gasperini said: "Mora is very young but has already reached important values. Two years ago at Porto he scored 10 goals. It's an important investment by the club, especially for the future. He has all the characteristics to emerge and do well." The manager acknowledged that Roma's wage bill constraints prevented pursuit of more established attacking talent: "We started with very high profiles and it's not a novelty. We had to contend with the need to keep the wage bill within a certain limit and we couldn't get established players with those characteristics." Gasperini praised the sacrifice of senior players: "I'm also satisfied with the attitude of Dybala, Pellegrini, Cristante, who have reduced their contracts considerably." Gasperini revealed that Roma is the only Italian club currently under UEFA control paying the penalty. "There is the FFP that is limiting; perhaps Roma is the only club in Italy that has to pay this situation," he said. "It stems from the past and we don't feel too responsible, but it is so." He explained that the original transfer strategy changed midway through the window due to FFP restrictions: "The profile is only that of UEFA; there are no other possibilities. If we had made Summerville perhaps we wouldn't have been able to do anything else." Roma has already received two payment deferrals and cannot obtain further relief, forcing the club into what Gasperini termed a "creative" market. He added: "Roma has already had two deferrals and probably cannot have any more. Now the reckoning has arrived, but we'll do well anyway." On Paulo Dybala's fitness prospects, Gasperini expressed confidence: "I'm sure he can play more matches this season because I see him not only determined as he was last year but also particularly strong. He completed a preparation that perhaps for some time he hadn't been able to complete, without injuries." The manager noted Dybala was unlucky last season with two significant injuries—one suffered during a penalty against Milan and another during a free kick against Torino that cost him a meniscus injury and three-and-a-half months out. Gasperini indicated further squad changes may occur only if they strengthen Roma: "If there will be other departures, it's only for changes, to switch. At this moment there's nothing certain." The left wing position remains a priority only if the right player becomes available within FFP constraints.

Gasperini is preparing Roma's opening lineup for Monday's visit of Fiorentina, with the shape of his team already taking clearer form in the final days of the transfer window. The Stadio Olimpico will host Fiorentina, managed by Grosso, who despite their youth and last season's league position will present a stern test. Gasperini has identified Fiorentina's preference for a 4-3-3 setup during summer friendlies and is likely to counter with a 3-4-1-2 formation against their four-man defence, adapting his usual structure. That system would see Rodrigo Mora operating as the trequartista behind the Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen partnership, a position where the Argentine could make an immediate impact and deliver more options than Matías Soulé offers from the left flank. The formation can shift to a 3-4-2-1 during play when Malen presses higher up the pitch. Gasperini will keep some selection decisions until the final stages of Monday's match. Wesley and Molina appear set for the right flank, while Kostas Tsimikas contests the left-back role against Mario Hermoso for a starting place. The central defensive duel between Evan N'Dicka and Fiorentina's Kean will be a critical battleground — N'Dicka has struggled more than usual against Kean's pace and explosive moments from his time at Juventus. Fiorentina's Arthur Atta will be their wildcard variable, looking to disrupt Roma's defensive shape by dropping deep and unsettling the back line. Molina will have dual duties: creating danger down the flank through his runs while containing the constant forward drives of Valdepeñas. The final training session takes place this afternoon at Trigoria, where remaining selection dilemmas—including the Mora-Soulé contest and the Cristante-Neil El Aynaoui decision—will be resolved. Gasperini continues to wait for one more attacking wide player with different characteristics from Mora during the summer window. Monday brings the first competitive test of the season, a tactical chess match between two managers with distinct philosophies and clear identities. Roma will need a strong start in a title race that this year features more Champions League contenders than ever before.

Gian Piero Gasperini defended Roma's transfer approach at his pre-match press conference on 22 August, two days before the Serie A opener against Fiorentina at the Olimpico. The coach confirmed that UEFA financial regulations have forced a strategic shift in the market, compounding constraints that stem from years of previous spending. "The profile is only that of UEFA; there are no other possibilities," Gasperini said. "There are situations that UEFA imposes and from which our ownership, even wanting to, cannot escape. I thought that after six months or with arrival in the Champions League the situation would be resolved, but it is not so." Gasperini emphasised that Roma remain the only Italian club currently under UEFA supervision. "Roma has already had two deferrals and probably cannot have any more," he noted. "Now the reckoning has arrived, but we will do well anyway." Despite those constraints, he expressed satisfaction with arrivals in the window. Álex Molina replaced Zeki Çelik after winning the World Cup two months earlier; Christos Koulierakis joined as a defensive profile the squad lacked; and Rodrigo Mora arrived as a young long-term investment. Artem Dovbyk and Evan Ferguson departed, replaced by Mateo Castro. El Shaarawy, Bryan Zaragoza, Angeliño and Kostas Tsimikas also left. Gasperini stated: "All the players who arrived have strongly wanted to come to Roma. They have also reduced their salaries—and under this aspect I believe very positive work has been done. There are still ten days of the market left and we hope to complete everything." On the left wing position that Roma had pursued, Gasperini offered flexibility: "Only if he can be added value, otherwise I am not going to load myself with players just for the sake of it." Numerically, two squad slots remain available from a full complement of 23. He praised Paulo Dybala, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Bryan Cristante for accepting significant wage cuts. On Dybala's fitness prospects, Gasperini said: "I am certain, because I see him not only determined as he was last year but also particularly strong. He completed a pre-season perhaps for the first time without injuries." Dybala suffered two serious injuries last season—one requiring meniscus surgery that sidelined him for three and a half months. Gasperini stated that further squad exits may follow only if they represent tactical switches rather than pure departures. "If there are other exits it is only for changes, to switch," he said. "In this moment there is nothing certain." The window closes in ten days. Roma finished last season on 73 points and third place in Serie A, but Gasperini stressed the slate resets: "Every year you start from zero. What was done was very positive and satisfactory for all, but when the season starts everyone begins at 0 points and the 73 points from last year must be played again."

Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference on 22 August ahead of Roma's opening Serie A match against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico in two days' time. The head coach confirmed that four new players have joined the club this summer: Molina, who won the World Cup and reached the final two months ago and can replace Ferguson; Castro, who reportedly travelled by train to join earlier; Koulierakis, a defender with characteristics the squad lacked; and Mora, a young forward. Gasperini said he remained very satisfied with the new arrivals, noting that "they all strongly wanted Roma, with Castro even leaving by train to arrive sooner." He confirmed that several players have departed—El Shaarawy, Venturino, Zaragoza, Angeliño and Tsimikas among them—and stated the club will reduce the squad while making it more competitive. The wage bill has been lowered by necessity, which Gasperini described as positive work by the club. Roma currently have 23 players registered, with two squad slots still available under UEFA rules, and Gasperini expressed hope of completing further business in the remaining ten days of the window. On Mora specifically, Gasperini said: "Mora is a very young lad who has already reached important numbers. Two years ago at Porto he reached ten goals. For the club it is a very important investment, especially in prospect—he has all the characteristics to emerge and do well." The coach acknowledged that investing in youth can be a necessary path, describing it as a positive element for the club's future.