Roma targets Malick Fofana as alternative to Nusa; Lyon demand €50m

Gian Piero Gasperini has warned his Roma side not to underestimate Manchester United ahead of the Champions League tie, despite the English club's poor run of results. On injuries, Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Mile Svilar are unlikely to return before the international break, although there remains a chance for the Sassuolo fixture. Rodrigo Mora is available, but team selection will be decided at the last moment. Donyell Malen is enjoying a remarkable spell: he has scored 22 goals in 27 Serie A matches in the calendar year, more than Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in their respective leagues. No player has scored more than him across Europe's top five leagues in that period, a transformation the article credits to his work under Gasperini. At Manchester United, Michael Carrick has gone nine matches without a win, and his position is increasingly under pressure. United were beaten 4-1 by Como, coached by Fabregas, a result that exposed gaps between midfield and defence. Nico Paz took advantage with two goals and an assist, and Roma's Matías Soulé, Rodrigo Mora and Donyell Malen are considered capable of exploiting the same weakness. Carrick has rejected the idea that he will be dismissed after the Roma game, saying: “Non penso che sarà così” (“I don't think that will be the case”). Dorgu and Luke Shaw are confirmed absent, while Marcus Rashford is doubtful. Carrick also recalled United's 7-1 win of 2007, calling it “una delle notti più belle della mia carriera” (“one of the best nights of my career”). Marten de Roon acknowledged the mistakes Roma made against Real Madrid, saying the side was immature in that match but is still developing. He said: “Vogliamo dare continuità alle prestazioni” (“We want to give continuity to our performances”). He also thanked supporters, adding: “Mi ha fatto piacere essere applaudito contro il Cagliari” (“It was nice to be applauded against Cagliari”). Elsewhere, Turkish press report that Greenwood had a tense exchange with Fenerbahçe president Yıldırım, asking his father and agent to find him another club. The bust-up followed his controversial omission against Göztepe. There has been no official rupture, and the club has attributed the absence to a flu-like illness. On the transfer front, Roma are reportedly monitoring Gabriel Sara, the Brazilian born in 1999 who plays for Galatasaray, with a view to a January move. Napoli, Newcastle and Everton are also said to be interested, with the English clubs reportedly ready to spend around €30 million, though only interest has been confirmed so far. Meanwhile, former Roma coach Fonseca is close to leaving Lyon to return to Portugal with Sporting. He broke down in tears after Lyon's win over Angers, embraced by his players. An agreement with Sporting is reportedly close but not yet official. If it goes through, Fonseca will face Roma as an opponent on 8 December in the Champions League.

Barcelona have decided to sell left-back Alejandro Balde, who is finding game time increasingly hard to come by in La Liga, and Manchester United are now reportedly in the running for the Spanish wing-back alongside Roma, according to ElNacional.cat. The reports describe interest rather than a concrete negotiation. Balde has never started a match for Barcelona, and coach Flick has reportedly opened the door to his departure. Roma's interest is not new: the left-back profile was linked to the Giallorossi in the previous weeks as well. Balde would be an alternative to Oosterwolde for the left-back berth in Roma's defence. The article adds that Balde's profile has been mentioned in connection with Roma before, and that the left-side options under consideration include Balde as a replacement for Oosterwolde in the lower band of the defence.

Roma are reportedly keeping an eye on Brazilian midfielder Gabriel Sara, who plays for Galatasaray, as they look to strengthen their midfield in the January transfer window. The 1999-born player, who had been linked with the Giallorossi in the past, has reportedly returned to the club's list of monitored names, according to German outlet fussball-news.de. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini is reportedly seeking reinforcements in midfield after Lorenzo Pellegrini suffered a serious injury, leaving the department without an important player. Sara is said to combine technical quality, forward runs and energy, qualities that could prove useful in Gasperini's midfield. Competition, however, is already significant. Napoli have reportedly also looked at the player in Italy, while Newcastle and Everton have reportedly moved for him from the Premier League. The two English clubs are reportedly ready to offer a figure close to €30 million to persuade Galatasaray to sell the midfielder. Roma are watching and evaluating the situation for now. The need to add a midfielder has become even more pressing following Pellegrini's absence, but much will depend on the economics of the deal and the competition that develops in the coming weeks.