Roma transfer live: Vaz close to Hull City loan, Fofana interest cools, Bynoe-Gittens pursued

Roma are targeting Leonardo Balerdi to strengthen their defence as Jan Ziółkowski prepares to leave for Monza. The 27-year-old Argentine centre-back, who rose through Boca Juniors and Borussia Dortmund before establishing himself at Marseille, brings high-level experience and solid international credentials. Balerdi is no conventional stopper of muscle and clearances. His principal strength is his relationship with the ball: he enjoys building from the back, escaping pressure, playing vertical passes and carrying possession out of defence. Last season he ranked among defenders with the highest percentages for completed passes and accuracy in forward play. He is also an aggressive centre-back who prefers to anticipate the striker rather than wait inside the area, and plays with personality and authority — he is comfortable in a three-man defence, where his ability to step up against an attacker plays to his strengths. Yet his asset is also his liability. Balerdi's technical confidence sometimes leads him to attempt one more action than necessary. When an exit goes wrong or he loses position, the error can be costly. This happened repeatedly at Marseille, and the alternation between excellent displays and occasional lapses drew criticism and whistles from the Vélodrome crowd. In short: he is not a faultless defender, but a modern, technical and courageous centre-back. If he can limit his distractions, he can be a player of significant calibre. A right calf injury in March was followed by another in June that forced him to withdraw from Argentina's Copa América squad. The problem appeared resolved during pre-season when he returned to regular action, but in August he felt fresh calf pain and missed Marseille's opening league match against Strasbourg. This does not necessarily signal a fragile player, but it is an aspect Roma will need to examine carefully during medical checks. Compared to Ziółkowski, Balerdi would represent a clear shift: less prospect of future development, but far more immediate experience. He would arrive ready from the start, with quality on the ball and commanding presence.

Roma have agreed personal terms with Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi and are pushing to complete the deal, with the French club accepting a loan with a mandatory purchase option under certain conditions. The move comes after Jan Ziółkowski's departure on loan to Monza and Roma's pursuit of alternative defensive reinforcements. With Nottingham Forest blocking a move for Morato, the club accelerated their pursuit of Balerdi on 28 August. The Argentine centre-back, born in 1999 and currently at Marseille, emerged as the primary target to strengthen the defence. Roma have put forward a proposal involving a loan with a right to buy that becomes an obligation upon the occurrence of specific conditions. According to reports, the formula is favoured by all parties involved. Negotiations between Roma and Marseille continued throughout the day as both clubs worked to finalise the terms. Balerdi is keen to join Roma, and there is confidence the operation can be completed in the coming hours.

Roma have targeted Marseille defender Balerdi as their next defensive reinforcement this summer. The club has already tabled an opening offer structured as a loan with a right of purchase that can convert to an obligation under certain conditions. Marseille prefer a permanent sale, but negotiations are ongoing and Roma are pressing hard. Bareldi was a target for Roma last season and now offers an opportunity to fill the gap left by Jan Ziółkowski, who will join Monza on loan with a purchase option set at €18 million. Roma have ended their pursuit of Morato from Nottingham, with the gap between the clubs too wide to bridge.

Roma travel to Lecce on Monday 31 August at 18:30 for the second round of Serie A 2026–27, aiming to build on a commanding 4–0 opening-day victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has injury concerns ahead of the fixture at the Stadio Via del Mare: Devyne Rensch is sidelined with a strain to the left thigh flexor, and Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a right thigh rectus femoris injury. Gasperini is expected to field a settled defensive shape with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Nahuel Molina's availability is being assessed; if he cannot play, Giorgio De Marzi will step in after an impressive display against Fiorentina. Wesley continues at left wing-back. Bryan Cristante is assured of his midfield place alongside Manu Koné. In the attacking third, the main selection question concerns Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; Mora started against Fiorentina and impressed, forcing a good save from De Gea, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are primed to lead the line. Malen was the star of Roma's opening fixture, scoring three goals and supplying three assists against Fiorentina, while Dybala also contributed three assists. Niccolò Pisilli rounded off the rout with Roma's fourth goal. The visitors hold a commanding historical record: across 42 meetings with Lecce, Roma have won 29, drawn 11 and lost only twice. The clubs last met in the 2025–26 season, when Roma won 1–0 at home through Robinio Vaz. Lecce arrive after an away victory over Venezia (2–0, goals from Gorter and Tiago Gabriel) and will play in a 4–3–3 formation under manager Eusebio Di Francesco. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, Sky Sport and NOW. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before kickoff.

Robinio Vaz's time at Roma is ending. The French forward, born 2008, has struggled to establish himself under Gian Piero Gasperini after limited involvement during pre-season, and is now seeking regular football elsewhere. Hull City, newly promoted to the Premier League, is leading the pursuit on the basis of a loan worth €2 million plus a €30 million option to buy, but Vaz is taking time to consider other concrete offers. Ligue 1 clubs including Lorient, sides from the Bundesliga, and PSV Eindhoven have all registered interest in the former Marseille prospect. Roma are preparing to complete his departure, with negotiations between the club and Hull City advancing toward agreement over the loan-with-option-to-buy structure. Vaz is reviewing the final contractual details before undergoing a medical and signing with the English club. The move comprises €2 million for the loan and €30 million for a potential summer redemption.

Robinio Vaz is on his way out of Roma, with Hull City's offer now moving toward completion. The Premier League club has tabled a loan deal worth €2 million with a €30 million option to buy, and today a meeting between Vaz's agents and Hull City officials will take place to reach final agreement. The main hurdle is convincing the forward to leave Roma for a newly promoted side. Vaz arrived at the club in January on a permanent deal from Olympique Marseille for €22 million plus €3 million in bonuses, a move driven more by sporting director Massara than by head coach Gasperini. He has failed to carve out significant playing time in the giallorossi. The loan includes a right of purchase for Hull City, though the exact terms and conditions of that option remain to be clarified at Trigoria.

Roma have agreed personal terms with Marseille defender Leonardo Balerdi and are pushing to complete the deal, with the French club accepting a loan with a mandatory purchase option under certain conditions. The move comes after Jan Ziółkowski's departure on loan to Monza and Roma's pursuit of alternative defensive reinforcements. With Nottingham Forest blocking a move for Morato, the club accelerated their pursuit of Balerdi on 28 August. The Argentine centre-back, born in 1999 and currently at Marseille, emerged as the primary target to strengthen the defence. Roma have put forward a proposal involving a loan with a right to buy that becomes an obligation upon the occurrence of specific conditions. According to reports, the formula is favoured by all parties involved. Negotiations between Roma and Marseille continued throughout the day as both clubs worked to finalise the terms. Balerdi is keen to join Roma, and there is confidence the operation can be completed in the coming hours.

Roma have targeted Marseille defender Balerdi as their next defensive reinforcement this summer. The club has already tabled an opening offer structured as a loan with a right of purchase that can convert to an obligation under certain conditions. Marseille prefer a permanent sale, but negotiations are ongoing and Roma are pressing hard. Bareldi was a target for Roma last season and now offers an opportunity to fill the gap left by Jan Ziółkowski, who will join Monza on loan with a purchase option set at €18 million. Roma have ended their pursuit of Morato from Nottingham, with the gap between the clubs too wide to bridge.

Roma travel to Lecce on Monday 31 August at 18:30 for the second round of Serie A 2026–27, aiming to build on a commanding 4–0 opening-day victory over Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has injury concerns ahead of the fixture at the Stadio Via del Mare: Devyne Rensch is sidelined with a strain to the left thigh flexor, and Lorenzo Pellegrini remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a right thigh rectus femoris injury. Gasperini is expected to field a settled defensive shape with Mile Svilar in goal and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. Nahuel Molina's availability is being assessed; if he cannot play, Giorgio De Marzi will step in after an impressive display against Fiorentina. Wesley continues at left wing-back. Bryan Cristante is assured of his midfield place alongside Manu Koné. In the attacking third, the main selection question concerns Rodrigo Mora and Matías Soulé; Mora started against Fiorentina and impressed, forcing a good save from De Gea, while Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen are primed to lead the line. Malen was the star of Roma's opening fixture, scoring three goals and supplying three assists against Fiorentina, while Dybala also contributed three assists. Niccolò Pisilli rounded off the rout with Roma's fourth goal. The visitors hold a commanding historical record: across 42 meetings with Lecce, Roma have won 29, drawn 11 and lost only twice. The clubs last met in the 2025–26 season, when Roma won 1–0 at home through Robinio Vaz. Lecce arrive after an away victory over Venezia (2–0, goals from Gorter and Tiago Gabriel) and will play in a 4–3–3 formation under manager Eusebio Di Francesco. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN, Sky Sport and NOW. Official team sheets will be released approximately one hour before kickoff.

Roma's pursuit of a left-sided attacking midfielder dominates transfer discussion across Rome radio as the summer window approaches its final days. Commentators on Tele Radio Stereo, Rete Sport and Radio Radio debate whether Gasperini will land his primary target—a wide forward he has been seeking for 15 months—or be forced into a late compromise. Lorenzo Pes stated: "Between Gittens and Fofana, the first is preferred especially by the coach. As long as there is time to do it, Roma will try to construct the operation with Chelsea. The English club has not yet given openings, but Roma will continue to push. If it becomes clear there will be no margin, then we will go to Fofana. The agreement there you had already found. But Gittens has the financial and technical favour, and for this remains the favourite. The two clubs have good relations." Pes added that Gittens would arrive on loan if a deal is struck in the final hours of the market. Alessio Nardo expressed frustration at the extended delay. "Surreal this situation. Gasperini has been asking for this attacking winger profile for 15 months. The important thing is not to find ourselves taking the Zaragoza of the moment on the last day of the market. You must take someone strong, an added starter and not the last leftover that happens to you. You are still in serious delay—we are at the end of a very long transfer campaign and you are still missing that player there. It has become a novel. It would be grotesque to end up with the short end of the stick, and even more demoralizing to take the Zaragoza of the moment at the last." Gianluca Piacentini noted that Roma correctly declined to sign Oosterwolde and that Gasperini likely prefers a player with different physical characteristics than Mora, making Fofana an option—though Gittens's loan structure makes him likely to arrive only in the final window hours if at all. Francesca Ferrazza reported that Roma has neither confirmed nor denied interest in Kessié or Fofana, describing the situation as "very very complicated" and dependent on other pieces falling into place. She also noted that Gasperini's reaction to El Aynaoui's approach in training "does not drive him crazy," raising questions about the winger's future. Piero Torri suggested Kessié's agent approached Roma as leverage to accelerate Juventus's interest, implying Roma is being used in a negotiating game. Roberto Pruzzo expressed scepticism about Kessié's fit for Serie A and backed the idea of selling El Aynaoui if Roma can bring in a player with different strengths. He predicted a 2–0 Lecce result, while Nando Orsi suggested De Roon as an unconventional alternative despite his 35 years and predicted a draw. Checco Oddo Casano warned Roma could be left empty-handed if decisions do not come before Friday and the weekend fixture congestion dilutes focus. The club remains without a fifth defender and a left-sided midfielder as the window enters its final stretch.

Roma are positioning themselves to sign Franck Kessié ahead of Juventus in the closing stages of the transfer window. Juventus tabled an offer of €3.5 million per season over two years with a view to a third, but Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma are preparing a superior proposal for the free agent midfielder, who departed Al Ahli. Gasperini worked with Kessié at Atalanta early in the Ivorian's career and is keen to reunite with him at Roma. The move would come as Neil El Aynaoui, signed last summer from Lens, faces a probable departure after limited involvement under Gasperini. El Aynaoui's exit would provide Roma with funds to pursue Kessié, a 1996-born midfielder and Italian champion with Milan in 2022. Juventus held talks with Kessié's representatives in Milan on 28 August, but Roma's interest and willingness to exceed Juve's financial terms puts the club from the Capitale in pole position to secure the player.

Roma's Champions League draw has drawn mixed reactions from Italian radio pundits on the morning of the league-phase fixture list announcement. Carina, speaking on Radio Radio Mattino, said there were several aspects of the draw that could have gone better for the club. "The difference between playing Fenerbahce at the Olimpico and playing them in Istanbul is huge. Sporting Lisbon is also a difficult team to face. We can say perhaps it could have gone better," he said. He added that the arrival of Kessié would not necessarily mean Koné's departure, and noted that "Roma has put El Aynaoui on the market." Pruzzo also assessed Roma's path in the competition on the same programme, saying: "Roma's journey in Champions is a tough one. They seem to be teams of reasonably good standard on average. You have to be ready to compete against all of them. I'm not convinced that Kessié can still give much in our league." The comments reflect uncertainty about both the quality of Roma's European opponents and the club's transfer strategy as the window remained open. Other voices contributed perspective: Moretti noted it would be "very curious to see Mourinho's reaction on his return to the Olimpico and the fans' reaction too," while Damascelli called Roma's Champions League path "a fascinating journey," highlighting the appeal of facing Real Madrid as "always beautiful, because it's the most winning team in the world." He added: "There's a desire to see great matches in Champions, because in our league there aren't any great matches."