Roma tracking Oosterwolde as defensive target

Liverpool have emerged as the latest heavyweight club to express interest in Roma midfielder Manu Koné, according to journalist David Ornstein of The Athletic. Koné remained at Roma after a summer window in which Atlético Madrid made an approach and Chelsea made contact on the final day of the transfer market, though the latter were only described as "informational contacts" by Roma's sporting director D'Amico. Ornstein stated: "I think there is interest from the Reds for Koné at Roma, and they will have other options too. He was very close to Chelsea before they turned to Camara, and we'll see what position Roma find themselves in during the winter window. He has been examined very carefully by Manchester United and I think Liverpool like him." Despite the external attention, Koné remains focused on Roma and is regarded as one of the fundamental elements of Gasperini's squad.

Mason Greenwood will face Roma for the first time since a failed transfer pursuit, now wearing the Fenerbahçe colours in their Champions League clash in Istanbul. The English forward was a priority target for Gian Piero Gasperini during the summer transfer window, and the Roma coach recently acknowledged his disappointment at failing to complete the deal. Greenwood will instead pose a significant threat in what is Roma's opening European fixture of the season. The transfer saga has captured attention in Turkey ahead of the match. Turkish outlet Fanatik stoked anticipation by using Greenwood's connection to Roma, with the publication stating: "Greenwood will destroy Roma. After having refused them, now he will show his value." For Roma, the task now is to move past what happened in the summer market. Greenwood was identified as a key attacking reinforcement for Gasperini's squad, but the operation fell through and the player opted to join Fenerbahçe instead.

Jeremie Leweling has found himself sidelined at Stuttgart after a dramatic summer transfer saga with Roma that ultimately collapsed. The German forward has appeared only in the closing stages of matches against Bayern Munich and Cologne, totalling just 48 minutes on the pitch. Stuttgart manager Sebastian Hoeneß prefers attacking midfielders Undav and El Khannouss behind striker Pejcinovic, with Vagnoman occupying the right flank, leaving little room for Leweling in the team's setup. The player's summer proved chaotic. Roma and Stuttgart agreed a €35 million transfer fee, with both clubs satisfied by the deal—Stuttgart especially pleased to receive the revenue. Leweling repeatedly changed his mind, however: he committed to Roma, then reversed course, then reconsidered again, with a plane waiting to fly him to Italy before another change of heart. The indecision infuriated both clubs. Had the move succeeded, Roma coach Gian Piero Gasperini had planned to deploy Leweling in a dual role that would have guaranteed regular playing time. Instead, Roma continue without him and perform well, Leweling sits unused at Stuttgart and faces criticism from local supporters. The failed transfer has left both parties worse off.

Jadon Sancho has re-entered Roma's thinking more than a year after the club's pursuit of him ended with his move to Aston Villa last summer. The English winger is now a free agent and represents a potential opportunity for the Giallorossi. Roma's management are considering offering him a performance-based contract, with wages tied to appearances, to provide the right-footed winger Gian Piero Gasperini has requested to complete the attacking department. No negotiations are currently underway, but Sancho remains a concrete option to monitor over the coming weeks. Separately, Roma face travel restrictions for Monday's fixture at Torino, scheduled for 18:30 on 14 September. A ticket sales ban has been imposed for residents of Rome's province, preventing them from attending the match at the Olimpico Grande Torino. Residents elsewhere in Lazio may purchase tickets only in the away section and exclusively with an AS Roma membership card. Roma's Champions League opener against Fenerbahçe is set for Thursday at 18:45 at the Şükrü Saracoğlu in Istanbul. Fenerbahçe have returned to training following a loss to Besiktas and will be without Mateo Guendouzi, suspended by UEFA for the match after incidents in a preliminary tie against Lyon. Marco Asensio is under assessment after two weeks out with injury and has not featured in training. Fenerbahçe's coach hopes to recover Akturkoglu and to have Romelu Lukaku at full fitness, while Oosterwolde remains unavailable following surgery. Analyst Piero Torri stated: "Roma are currently unbeaten alongside Inter, and these are certainly positive responses. From now until December it will be entirely a question of injuries: if Roma are not hit by injuries, their squad is sufficient. All the same, Pisilli and Rensch remained on the bench on Saturday, and Pellegrini will return." Commentator Carina added: "Roma are finally 'Gasperini-style': they are the same Roma we saw in Gasperini's Atalanta. Three matches and three games in the Gasperini style: they never stop. It is a squad that takes your breath away. And for the first time a coach wins the match by removing two defenders: had he not taken off N'Dicka and Mancini, Roma would have suffered a second goal, because both fail to understand each other against Kristovic and run into difficulty."

Roma will make their Champions League debut for seven years when they travel to Istanbul to face Fenerbahçe on 8 September, their first taste of Europe's premier competition since March 2019. After winning their opening three Serie A matches, Gian Piero Gasperini's side returns to the tournament that has been absent from the Stadio Olimpico since the 2018–19 season, when Roma last played in it away to Porto in the round of 16 under Eusebio Di Francesco. The gulf between then and now is vast: that side held De Rossi as captain and featured Dzeko, Kolarov, Marcano, Manolas, Juan Jesus and Karsdorp in defence. Today, Roma take the pitch with fresh momentum and a manager ready for his 35th Champions League bench. For Gasperini, Istanbul marks a return to the tournament after his Atalanta years. Across 34 previous Champions League matches as a coach, his record stands at 12 victories, 9 draws and 13 defeats. His sole previous campaign outside Atalanta came in 2011 on Inter's bench, when he lost 1–0 to Trabzonspor at San Siro. Atalanta provided all 33 other appearances, including his finest hour: the 2019–20 quarter-final against Paris Saint-Germain, a result that stings still. Atalanta had led 1–0 thanks to Pasalic until the 90th minute, before Marquinhos and Choupo-Moting scored at 90 and 93 minutes respectively. His last Champions League outing was the playoff elimination against Club Brugge in the 2024–25 season, a 5–2 aggregate defeat. For Fenerbahçe, the wait has been even longer: 18 years since they last featured in the group phase, which was the 2008–09 season. Roma's drought has lasted seven years, their previous fixture coming on 6 March 2019, a 3–1 loss after extra time to Porto. Across all European competitions, Roma have played 111 matches, recording 41 victories, 27 draws and 43 defeats, with their finest hour the 1984 European Cup final against Liverpool, decided on penalties. Fenerbahçe's best European run reached the quarter-finals in 2007–08, when they beat Chelsea 2–1 at home before elimination. The two clubs have never met in an official fixture; their only previous encounter was a friendly on 19 August 2014 at the Olimpico, which finished 3–3 before 35,000 spectators in Roma's pre-season presentation under Rudi Garcia. Totti opened the scoring from a penalty at 26 minutes; Bruno Alves equalised from a free-kick six minutes later. Kuyt and Sow put Fenerbahçe 3–1 up in the second half before Mattia Destro's double at 82 and 86 minutes secured a draw. Salih Uçan, who had transferred from Fenerbahçe to Roma weeks before, appeared for Roma in that second half. Romelu Lukaku, who spent one season at Roma as their centre-forward two years ago, will lead Fenerbahçe's attack. He scored 21 goals in 47 appearances for Roma—13 in Serie A, 7 in the Europa League and 1 in the Coppa Italia—under both Mourinho and De Rossi before joining Napoli. Mason Greenwood, the English forward who came close to signing for Roma this summer before Fenerbahçe's intervention secured his services with a substantial offer, will also feature. Mattéo Guendouzi, the French midfielder, is suspended for four match days by UEFA—two of them suspended for a year—following the incident in the playoff against Lyon, and will miss Roma's visit and the subsequent match against Aston Villa. Vedat Muriqi, the Kosovo striker who returned to Fenerbahçe after a spell at Mallorca, has already scored three goals in seven appearances this season, including the decisive strike in a 2–1 win over Lyon that sealed qualification. Jayden Oosterwolde, the defender, was due to join Roma after arriving at Ciampino on 25 August, but a medical examination revealed a serious issue with his left thigh beyond the initial diagnosis. After Roma attempted to renegotiate and Fenerbahçe refused, he returned to Istanbul and underwent surgery in Finland on 1 September; he will watch from the sidelines.

Fenerbahçe will host Roma in the opening match of the Champions League league phase on Thursday at 18.45 at the Şükrü Saraçoğlu Stadium in Istanbul. The Turkish side face the fixture with several significant absences. Mateo Guendouzi is suspended after events at the final whistle of the Lyon–Fenerbahçe Champions League preliminary tie, serving four matches of which two carry a suspended sentence; he will miss the Roma debut. Mason Greenwood is available despite a one-match ban with a suspended punishment running for a year. Marco Asensio remains unavailable after an injury sustained two weeks ago. The former Real Madrid forward has ruled out a cruciate ligament rupture following speculation in Turkey but did not feature in Fenerbahçe's match against Beşiktaş. His condition will continue to be assessed. Fenerbahçe manager Kartal will pursue full recovery of Akturkoglu and aim to build match fitness for Romelu Lukaku, though Oosterwolde faces an extended absence following surgery. Training continued on 7 September ahead of the Thursday fixture.