Saudi clubs circle Soulé as Roma holds firm on €40m valuation

Roma's primary transfer priority with three days left in the summer window remains a left-sided winger, a position head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has requested for two years. Sporting director Tony D'Amico is targeting a swift conclusion, with two candidates in play: Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and Malick Fofana. Chelsea remains unwilling to loan out Gittens despite his peripheral status at the club, though Roma would be ready to move quickly if the Blues change their stance in the coming hours. The Fofana option remains on standby, with the Lyon winger hoping to complete a transfer after an agreement with Roma was reached roughly two weeks ago. Defensive moves are nearing completion, with Jan Ziółkowski departing to Monza and a new centre-back arriving, freeing resources for the attacking reinforcement. Fofana, the Belgian winger currently at Lyon, is waiting for the club to provide direction to his representatives. Lyon, who failed to qualify for the Champions League, are under pressure to sell and have been asked to lower their asking price. The class of 2005 is unlikely to move to Hull City, though other English clubs remain interested. Market expert Fabrizio Romano outlined both possibilities in a recent YouTube video. Roma have made contact with Fofana's camp and an agreement on personal terms has been struck, but the final sticking point is Lyon's valuation. The window closes in three days, making the next 48 hours critical for either deal to progress.

Roma have secured the arrival of Argentine defender Balerdi on a loan deal with a conditional right of redemption tied to appearances, worth approximately €20 million in total. The transfer was accelerated by sporting director D'Amico in recent hours as the club continues to reshape its defence ahead of the summer window's closure in three days. Simultaneously, Jan Ziółkowski departed on a season-long loan to Monza, also with a redemption clause fixed at €18 million. Gasperini's squad continues to prioritise reinforcements in defence while keeping attention on the left-sided attacking position. The club may defer investment on the wing until January, given the development of Emanuele Lulli and the pressing need to strengthen the forward line. Roma maintain strong pressure on Chelsea to secure winger Gittens on a loan transfer, with the two clubs in continuous contact to finalise the deal. An alternative target, Fofana, is also under consideration following Lyon's elimination from the Champions League, though the French club's asking price remains substantial and they require immediate payment. Balerdi's move is a loan arrangement with the redemption option conditioned by the number of appearances the defender makes. The clubs are in constant communication to settle all terms of the operation. The article was reported by Lorenzo Pes for Il Tempo.

Roma have shifted their defensive focus and are close to signing Leonardo Balerdi from Marseille as a replacement for Jan Ziółkowski. The Argentine centre-back will join on a paid loan of €1 million with a right of purchase that becomes an obligation once a set number of appearances is reached. Balerdi is an aggressive defender suited to operating in a three-man defence, strong in pressing and building from the back. Director Tony D'Amico and coach Gian Piero Gasperini are familiar with the 24-year-old; both considered him during summer 2024 at Atalanta after facing him in a Europa League semi-final, though that move fell through when Marseille's asking price was too high. Ziółkowski is being loaned out to Monza with a purchase option set at €18 million. The club will now shift their transfer focus entirely to recruiting an offensive left-winger, with Gittens top of their wish list and Fofana remaining in contention for the position.