Roma to finalise Żelezny loan to Perugia with recall option

Gian Piero Gasperini has condemned the structure of the Italian transfer window, arguing that allowing the market to close after the league season has begun creates unnecessary chaos for all clubs. Speaking after Roma's friendly against Brighton, the Roma head coach said: "As always the market starts on 1 July and then everything is decided in the last 15 days of August. For everyone these are the wrong dates, because the squads are already in preparation for a month and the market is still up in the air for everyone." Daniele De Rossi, now managing Genoa, publicly backed Gasperini's position. De Rossi revealed that Norton Cuffy did not play in Genoa's friendly against Deportivo La Coruna due to market uncertainties, and used the occasion to criticise the calendar. He said: "It's a stupid thing, wrong, I don't understand who could like it, I don't understand who could agree with it. Meanwhile whoever wants to make a deal on 30 August will do it on 15 August, it's something that devastates everyone because if you play on 16 against Ascoli and on 15 they sell you a player you'll have some difficulty. This is a bureaucratic abomination that I will never be able to understand." Both coaches highlighted how the compressed August window forces transfers to occur once pre-season training is underway, destabilising squad preparation across Serie A.

Roma have accelerated their pursuit of Porto attacking midfielder and winger Rodrigo Mora, a 19-year-old Portuguese player, hoping to seal a deal in the coming days. The move comes after difficulties emerged during Roma's pre-season tour of Britain, prompting head coach Gian Piero Gasperini to request offensive reinforcements. Roma have reportedly moved ahead of Galatasaray in the race for Mora, who holds the distinction of being Porto's youngest ever league debutant. Porto value the player at €50 million; Roma have tabled an opening proposal based on a €5 million loan with a €45 million purchase option, aiming to complete the transfer as quickly as possible. However, Porto manager Francesco Farioli has dampened expectations of an imminent exit. In a press conference, the Italian coach stated: "Only one player has come to speak to me about the possibility of leaving. I know there is another who would like to depart, but Rodrigo does not fall into either of those cases." This suggests Mora has not requested a move and remains part of Farioli's plans, complicating Roma's bid. On the pitch, Mora started on the bench for Porto in their first Portuguese league match of the season against Alverca.

Roma have made their opening move for Porto winger Rodrigo Mora, submitting a proposal to the Portuguese club for a loan deal worth €5 million with a €45 million purchase option. The Serie A side hopes for a response from Porto in the coming days as head coach Gian Piero Gasperini seeks to strengthen his attacking options. Mora's future became a talking point after Roma's interest emerged, but Porto manager Francesco Farioli moved to dampen speculation in a press conference. Farioli stated: "Only one player has come to speak to me about the possibility of leaving. I know there's another who would like to depart, but Rodrigo is not part of either of those cases." The Porto boss added: "It's not the time to discuss individual situations, because we have a match tomorrow. I know the transfer market can be a source of distraction: some players might think about different destinations or their role here at Porto, but everyone can rest assured. Whoever stays will have their opportunities in all competitions." Porto opened their league campaign against Alverca, with Mora left on the bench despite being central to transfer speculation.

Roma expect to receive a €53 million offer from Manchester United for midfielder Manu Koné, according to Rio Ferdinand. The club is not denying the likely departure of the French midfielder, who will first play the third-place playoff for England before considering his options with his representatives. Though a move to Paris Saint-Germain remains his preference, a Premier League offer would be difficult to refuse. For Roma, selling Koné is necessary to generate a substantial profit of around €40 million and resolve their UEFA dispute. With difficulties surrounding moves for Matías Soulé and Wesley, and a wall around Radosław Żelezny, Koné represents the only realistic path to that figure. Roma's coaching staff is already compiling replacement options. Celtic's Engels, 22, stands out as a primary target. At 1.85 metres tall with excellent technical ability, he offers significant dynamism, game vision, and strong insertion runs. His cost is estimated at €20–25 million. Danilo Santos of Botafogo is valued at €30–35 million and shares more tactical similarities with Koné—standing 177 cm and weighing 70 kg, he compensates for a lean frame with ball-recovery abilities, smart distribution, and clean passing. Other names under consideration include Camara of Monaco, priced at €40 million after a strong Ligue 1 campaign, and Varela of Porto. Both represent higher investment priorities for other areas of the pitch at present.