Roma target Tognozzi as Gasperini eyes Rio Ave director

Roma sporting director Tony D'Amico has confirmed the club is already looking ahead to the January transfer window, with the priority being a new wide attacker to add unpredictability and penetration to the forward line for Gian Piero Gasperini. Speaking to the microphones before the match at the Olimpico, D'Amico outlined the club's needs. The move reflects an analysis of the first part of the season, in which the side has shown a need to find alternative solutions to add more danger in attack and to address dips in intensity in the second halves. The market department's list includes several interesting names. Among the favourites are Gittens of Chelsea, Kvernadze of Frosinone and Endrick of Real Madrid, profiles that match the identikit drawn up by the club's management to strengthen the Roma attacking flank in the coming months. D'Amico said: "We are missing a winger with pace, someone for the counter-attack. We will try to sign him in January, evaluating the opportunities, to give these characteristics to the mister."

Roma sporting director D'Amico has confirmed that signing an attacking winger with real pace is the club's priority as the January transfer window approaches. Speaking to Sky Sport, he said: "This is the problem we realised at the end of the market."

Roma are looking to bring in at least one new signing in January, with Gian Piero Gasperini seeking an attacking winger, and Gittens is the name consistently linked to the position. Fabrizio Romano reports that the Englishman is currently the front-runner, although he is presently injured. Chelsea did not open the door to a loan last summer, but the London club could be willing to consider a temporary transfer in January. The club's sporting director D'Amico addressed the market before the Roma-Sassuolo match, making clear the squad's needs. Roma are looking to add a winger with pace on the break to the squad. D'Amico said: "Ci manca un esterno di gamba, di ripartenza. Cercheremo di farlo a gennaio valutando le opportunità. Cercheremo di dare queste caratteristiche al mister." In English: "We are missing a winger with legs, one who can counter-attack. We will try to do it in January, evaluating the opportunities. We will try to give these characteristics to the coach."

Rodrigo Mora has scored in three consecutive Serie A matches, and his latest goal on Friday night at the Stadio Olimpico drew a standing ovation from the Roma fans when he was substituted. The Portuguese forward, who is listed as a midfielder in Roma's squad, has been one of the standout talents of the current campaign, according to Lorenzo Cascini in La Gazzetta dello Sport. Mora's third straight league goal follows strikes against Cagliari, in a match where he was decisive, and Udinese. In between, he produced a outstanding performance for Manchester in the Champions League, providing two assists for Matías Soulé, one for a goal and one for a penalty won that led to Donyell Malen's second goal. Gian Piero Gasperini, who wanted the 2007-born talent strongly this summer, has praised and protected him throughout. Mora is enjoying his form and his coach's backing. Mora's path to the first team began in his youth. At nine he left the Porto youth academy, where he was not finding a place, to return to playing for fun on a small pitch near his home in Matosinhos, a seaside town just outside Porto. After winning a couple of tournaments, Porto took him back to the Estádio do Dragão, and he made his debut at 15 years and 255 days. Cascini describes him as a talent who is currently bewitching everyone. The Olimpico applauded him several times during the match for his touches and his initiative. When he came off eight minutes after his third goal, the Giallorossi fans rose to their feet to applaud him.

Roma beat Sassuolo with composure, quality and collective sharpness, with Soulé and Mora taking centre stage and Rodrigo Mora finding his third league goal in three consecutive matches. Mario Hermoso gave Roma the lead with a powerful strike just minutes after an own goal forced by Donyell Malen, and the match was effectively settled from there. Vásquez, in the words of the match report, had practically a day off in goal. The win followed a difficult spell for the club, and the report describes it as a cycle of passion that has now ended with a chance to breathe before the end of November, which brings Parma and PSG. Roma's form in the league has been strong, and Mora's scoring run has made him a key figure in the attack. Gasperini's side regained control of the match after a heavy setback in England, starting cautiously and calmly before finding the gap in the Sassuolo defence after half an hour. Hermoso was rated 7.5 for a performance in which he played as an improvised partner to Malen, opened the scoring with a goal from the edge of the box, and was involved in the third goal after winning the ball. Balerdi (6.5) produced a headed clearance on the line and a shot from distance, while N'Dicka (6.5) was calm and composed. Cristante (6.5) covered an impressive distance, and Koné (6.5) controlled the midfield with calm and intelligence, though the report suggested he could shoot more often. Soulé (6.5) was praised for his control but criticised for choosing not to shoot into an empty net. Mora was rated 7, with the report calling his left foot velvet-soft and noting he ran as much as Cristante in the first half. Malen (6.5) was marked closely throughout, but scored with a diagonal shot after a double deflection and created an assist for Mora. Gasperini was rated 7 for restoring the team's composure after the English defeat and taking total control of the game. Molina (6) was criticised for focusing too often on backward passes, while Wesley (6) was sharp when Sassuolo tried to close space. Substitutes included Ghilardi, Koulierakis, de Roon (6), Pisilli (6) and Castro. Gasperini said: "giochiamoci questo campionato", which can be rendered as: "Let's play for this league title." The sentiment follows his earlier comment that he would not settle for second place. Roma now face a short break before the Parma match and PSG at the end of November.

Rodrigo Mora has said he knew early on how strong his Roma teammates were, speaking to Sky Sport after scoring. Asked to comment on his goal, he praised the pass from Donyell Malen, saying it was a really good ball. When asked whether he expected this team to be so strong straight away, Mora said: "We must certainly keep going like this. But I noticed during training how strong my teammates were, and I knew it." Mora also reflected on his own start at the club. He admitted he did not play as he had expected at first, and said that is simply how football works. "That's football. At the beginning you don't play and you think you should be playing. Then suddenly you start to play," he said, describing how his role changed once he settled in. The Portugal international's comments point to a squad he believes is capable of more and a player who has moved from the bench to a regular place in the side. His message to the squad is to build on what they are doing now rather than let up.