Roma's manageable squad surplus

Roma open their 2026–27 Serie A campaign at the Olimpico against Fiorentina in less than 24 hours, with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini still finalising his starting lineup. Rodrigo Mora is a serious contender to make his debut from the first minute in the attacking midfield role behind the Paulo Dybala–Donyell Malen partnership. Gasperini is expected to deploy a 3-4-1-2 formation to counter Fiorentina's four-man defence, with Wesley and Nahuel Molina set to operate on the flanks. Fiorentina boss Fabio Grosso addressed the challenge in his pre-match press conference on Friday morning. "Roma is strong, but we are prepared," Grosso said. "It will be a battle." Fiorentina have no remaining injury concerns and will have all squad members available for selection, including Atta and Kean.

Rafael Leão has become a fresh target for Roma's final stretch of the transfer window after the Portuguese winger opened to a possible move to the club in recent hours. No advanced negotiations are currently under way, but Roma are studying a sustainable formula centred on payment structure. The real obstacle remains agreement with Milan, who value Leão at €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses. A conversation between Gerry Cardinale and Leão's agent Jorge Mendes could prove decisive in the coming hours in determining which scenarios are genuinely feasible. At Trigoria, Tony D'Amico is observing closely: Leão is considered an ideal profile for Gasperini's attacking department, but concrete openings from Milan will be needed before any serious move. Roma remain undeterred in their pursuit of Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and have made a new attempt to sign the Chelsea winger. The negotiation remains tied to the structure of the deal. Chelsea do not view the player as outside their project and are unwilling to accept a loan without guarantees. To persuade the Blues, Roma will need to present either a permanent offer or a loan with a mandatory purchase obligation. Roma's defensive department has become particularly rich in alternatives following the arrival of Koulierakis and the imminent arrival of Jayden Oosterwolde. With this in mind, in the final days of the window, either Ziółkowski or Ghilardi could leave Trigoria to find more playing time. Polish defender Ziółkowski is the subject of strong interest from Saudi Arabia, while Ghilardi appeals to Bologna. The Emilia side are tracking him as a possible replacement for Lucumì: there is concrete interest at present, but a formal negotiation has not yet begun. Roma will make their Serie A home debut tomorrow at 20:45 against Fiorentina at the Stadio Olimpico, which is heading towards a sell-out. Gates open at 18:45 and the club advises supporters to arrive at least 90 minutes early to avoid queues at the turnstiles. The Box 4 on via Nigra will be active from 17:45 until kick-off for any needs, while from 09:00 it will be possible to contact Roma via Contact Centre, telephone or email.

Roma continue to pursue winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, but Chelsea have signalled a change in the structure required to make a move happen. According to Fabrizio Romano and Matteo Moretto, Chelsea will not sanction a departure on a simple loan with an option to buy. Instead, the London club are demanding guarantees of a permanent transfer—specifically a loan with an obligation to buy, potentially tied to easily achievable conditions that would effectively guarantee a permanent sale. Chelsea do not regard Gittens as surplus to requirements; they see him as a player capable of remaining useful within their squad, which explains their reluctance to part with him on softer terms. Roma's previous proposal—structured as a loan with an option to buy—has been rejected on this basis. Should Roma pursue Gittens further, they will need to move closer to Chelsea's demands and accept a far more binding financial commitment. If the club chooses not to accept those terms, they will be forced to explore alternative targets to provide head coach Gian Piero Gasperini with the attacking winger he has requested. Meanwhile, the transfer of Jayden Oosterwolde is now finalised in principle. An agreement with Fenerbahçe has been reached, with only final bureaucratic steps remaining before the deal closes. Roma's transfer activity may not end there: director Tony D'Amico continues to work on multiple fronts, and further moves in the coming days cannot be ruled out.

The imminent arrival of Jayden Oosterwolde could trigger a departure in Roma's defence, with the new acquisition able to play both left-back and centre-back, offering head coach Gian Piero Gasperini additional flexibility. In the final days of the transfer window, either Jan Ziolkowski or Daniele Ghilardi may leave the club. Ziolkowski is the more marketable asset. The Polish defender has attracted interest from two Saudi clubs, particularly Neom, which has registered strong interest. Roma value him at around €20 million, partly because Legia Varsavia retain 10% of any future sale. According to Corriere dello Sport, Roma are awaiting an offer in the region of €16 million from the Saudi club—a figure that could open genuine negotiations. A sale would carry significant importance for Roma's incoming transfers; with Oosterwolde acquired through a deal that defers much of the expenditure, any proceeds from Ziolkowski could become a small fund to reinvest in the attacking winger Gasperini has requested. Oosterwolde's arrival would also permit Roma to lose a centre-back without becoming numerically exposed in defence. Ghilardi is also under scrutiny following reported interest from Bologna. Roma will assess any proposals, and should either defender depart, D'Amico may pursue another centre-back on loan in the final days. Salah-Eddine remains outside the plans, continuing to train separately after rejecting several transfer options including Olympiacos.

Roma remain active in the transfer market with one day until their Serie A opener against Fiorentina, but several targets remain out of reach. The club has completed the signing of Oosterwolde, who is expected to arrive in the capital in the coming hours, and sporting director D'Amico continues searching for a final piece to complete Gasperini's squad. Left winger remains the priority, with three names under consideration: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Malick Fofana and Rafael Leão. Chelsea have flatly rejected Roma's approach for Gittens on loan, with the London club insisting on a permanent transfer only and viewing the player as not for sale. Roma plan a fresh meeting with Chelsea in the coming week to explore whether the club might reconsider, but the obstacle remains substantial. For Leão, Milan are asking for €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses, though the Portuguese winger has opened to a move to Roma and put Turkish proposals on hold. Roma are reasoning around a package of €45 million, with agent Jorge Mendes playing a central role in negotiations. Fofana's availability hinges on whether Lyon qualify for the Champions League—their return leg against Fenerbahçe takes place on 26 August. If they advance, the Belgian winger will stay; otherwise, a sale becomes likely. Luis Henrique remains far from completion despite Roma and Inter making progress on transfer terms. The key obstacle is a lack of agreement with the player himself. Elsewhere, Roma have made contact with Brighton regarding Yasin Ayari, a 2003-born midfielder, though Borussia Dortmund are competing for his signature. Jan Ziółkowski is available for transfer at €20 million valuation, with Saudi Arabian clubs showing interest. Should he depart, Roma plan to pursue a defender on loan, with Salah-Eddine continuing to field other offers after rejecting Olympiacos.

Roma are seeking exits for at least two squad members as they continue to reshape the squad. Salah-Eddine is effectively sidelined and will not feature in the matchday squad for the league campaign opener, having missed the entire pre-season training camp in Wales and trained separately since his return. The winger rejected a move to Olympiacos, who offered close to €10 million, after earlier loan stints elsewhere proved unsuccessful; PSV attempted to secure him but were rebuffed. Roma are now seeking alternative buyers, though only loan offers have materialized, particularly from the Netherlands. Defender Ziółkowski has attracted attention from two Saudi Arabian clubs, with Roma valuing him at €20 million—a figure that includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause owed to Legia Warszawa. Should the Polish defender or fellow centre-back Ghilardi (targeted by Bologna) depart, Roma plan to recruit another defender on loan. Head coach Gasperini explained that any further departures would only occur as part of planned tactical adjustments, telling the club to "switch" positions as needed. Porter Vazquez, equally marginal to the project, would suit a loan arrangement. By contrast, Robinio Vaz will remain; he impressed Gasperini during pre-season, and Roma rejected several Serie A loan offers for the young defender. Roma's loan-based strategy reflects their careful approach to the transfer window with the campaign now underway.

Robinio Vaz has moved from being a candidate for departure to a central part of Gian Piero Gasperini's plans after impressing during Roma's pre-season preparation. At the start of the summer retreat, the young French forward's future remained uncertain, with a temporary move away mooted to give him regular playing time. As the weeks progressed, however, Vaz's quality and growth potential persuaded Gasperini to work with him directly, developing his characteristics and integrating him into the first team's offensive rotation. Roma has acted decisively to keep him. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the club has rejected multiple loan approaches from Serie A sides. The decision reflects Gasperini's commitment to developing Vaz at Trigoria rather than sending him elsewhere for experience. The coach wants to work with him daily and assess how far he can push his development. Vaz can operate as a centre-forward or on the wing, offering flexibility in an attacking department Gasperini favours keeping well-stocked. The shift in direction marks a small but meaningful promotion earned entirely through his pre-season performances, an opportunity Vaz aims to build on after spending his first six months in Serie A in an apprenticeship role.

On the eve of Roma's season opener against Fiorentina, the transfer market continues to dominate the agenda at the club. Jayden Oosterwolde is set to arrive from Fenerbahçe, but head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has made clear his frustration with the handling of incoming transfers, calling on the board for a final push to complete the squad. Gasperini began the summer window with ambitions to recruit experienced, established players capable of competing in the Champions League. However, constraints imposed by wage limits and UEFA Financial Fair Play forced a shift toward younger, more sustainable profiles. "If we had signed Summerville, we wouldn't have been able to do anything else," Gasperini explained at his press conference, commenting also on the arrival of Rodrigo Mora: "It's an important investment with long-term prospects for the club, but it cannot be compared to Vaz." To consider the squad truly competitive and able to sustain a triple fixture schedule, Gasperini is still waiting for two additions. Beyond Oosterwolde, who will serve as Wesley's deputy, the coach is seeking a wide forward capable of providing pace and incisiveness. The club's line remains cautious: any move in the attacking department will materialise only if an opportunity of genuine quality presents itself.

Roma are seeking exits for at least two squad members as they continue to reshape the squad. Salah-Eddine is effectively sidelined and will not feature in the matchday squad for the league campaign opener, having missed the entire pre-season training camp in Wales and trained separately since his return. The winger rejected a move to Olympiacos, who offered close to €10 million, after earlier loan stints elsewhere proved unsuccessful; PSV attempted to secure him but were rebuffed. Roma are now seeking alternative buyers, though only loan offers have materialized, particularly from the Netherlands. Defender Ziółkowski has attracted attention from two Saudi Arabian clubs, with Roma valuing him at €20 million—a figure that includes a 10 per cent sell-on clause owed to Legia Warszawa. Should the Polish defender or fellow centre-back Ghilardi (targeted by Bologna) depart, Roma plan to recruit another defender on loan. Head coach Gasperini explained that any further departures would only occur as part of planned tactical adjustments, telling the club to "switch" positions as needed. Porter Vazquez, equally marginal to the project, would suit a loan arrangement. By contrast, Robinio Vaz will remain; he impressed Gasperini during pre-season, and Roma rejected several Serie A loan offers for the young defender. Roma's loan-based strategy reflects their careful approach to the transfer window with the campaign now underway.

Roma's Serie A season opens on Monday at the Olimpico against Fiorentina. Gasperini will largely depend on the core squad from last season, with few new faces starting from the first minute. Molina is certain of a place in the lineup, while Mora is competing with Soulé for a starting spot. Castro and Koulierakis will begin on the bench. Malen and Dybala will lead the attack, with Koné expected to start in midfield alongside Cristante, and Wesley playing on the left. The defence will feature the familiar trio of Mancini, Ndicka, and Hermoso. Roma–Fiorentina is the opening fixture of Serie A Enilive. The match will be broadcast live on DAZN and in co-exclusive coverage on Sky Sport, with kickoff at 20:45. Viewers will need a DAZN subscription to watch on television; the app can be downloaded on smart TV, Xbox, or PlayStation. Alternatively, the match can be streamed via Amazon Fire TV Stick, Google Chromecast, and TIM VISION Box. Live commentary will be available on Forzaroma.info, with updates across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Roma are pushing to complete their squad before the transfer window closes, with Jamie Gittens emerging as a priority target. The Chelsea winger, a left-footer playing on the right flank, is available on loan and is being monitored after missing significant time last season through a thigh injury. Roma want a straight loan deal but are open to structuring the move with conditional obligations attached. The club believes the injury poses no lasting concern and views Gittens, born in 2004, as a quality option. Chelsea will play Fulham away at roughly the same time Roma face Fiorentina, with both clubs expected to reconvene on negotiations from Tuesday onwards. The transfer push comes as Roma seek to balance adding depth with financial discipline ahead of an autumn UEFA judgment on their settlement agreement compliance. After investing heavily in Castro, Rodrigo Mora, Koulierakis and Molina, the club is now eyeing loan moves with optional purchase clauses to avoid further strain on the balance sheet while maintaining competitive quality across three fronts following their Champions League qualification secured in May. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini requires a complete, competitive roster. On the left flank, Roma continue monitoring Cacciamani from Torino, though the club's asking price remains a barrier to a deal. A new option has emerged in Jayden Oosterwolde, a Dutch centre-back capable of playing left-back. Currently at Fenerbahce, Oosterwolde is sidelined by injury with an expected return in three weeks. Roma have studied his file and can close a loan agreement with a discount given his current unavailability. The winger Endrick, meanwhile, has suffered an injury that will rule him out of Real Madrid's opening fixture tonight against Espanyol, dimming any late market hopes around the Brazilian.

Roma's summer transfer strategy underwent a dramatic reversal during the window, moving away from established stars towards younger, more financially sustainable targets. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had begun the window pursuing elite profiles including Mason Greenwood, Crysencio Summerville and Antonio Nusa, but as weeks passed the club progressively shifted direction. The turning point came when Roma abandoned a planned deal for Summerville and instead invested rapidly: 36 million plus 3 million in bonuses for Castro, 16.5 million plus 1.5 million for Koulierakis, and 13 million plus 4 million for Molina. These signings consumed the available budget and forced a complete change in approach. The root cause lies in Roma's Settlement Agreement with UEFA. Gasperini believed Champions League qualification would ease financial constraints, but the club's wage cap restrictions proved immovable. A decisive meeting during the club's Wales retreat saw CEO John Galantic communicate the ownership's new direction to the coaching staff: away from expensive, established players and towards young prospects capable of appreciating in value. Gasperini acknowledged the shift: "We started looking for very high-profile players but had to contend with the need to keep the wage bill under certain ceilings. Communications changed." He added: "I thought that once we reached the Champions League, financial fair play problems were solved and maybe the club thought so too. We had a different vision that we had to change over the weeks, including as strategies." Gasperini explained the domino effect of the decisions: "Maybe if we had done Summerville we couldn't have done anything else. Or perhaps his contract was sustainable at that moment." On UEFA's constraints, he stated: "There are situations that UEFA imposes from which the ownership cannot escape. All this forces us into a creative market, a necessity that also comes from what was done in previous years. In perspective Roma will certainly have value, but now the reckoning has arrived." The final phase of the window sees the club still seeking two players—a central midfielder (with Oosterwolde arriving for that role) and an attacking winger—but any additions must maintain financial balance. Gasperini confirmed: "Yes, two players. The left winger? We'll take it only if it brings added value."