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

Roma have reached contract agreements with Gianluca Mancini and Bryan Cristante on the renewal of their respective deals. The key sticking point was duration: Mancini secured a three-year extension after head coach Gian Piero Gasperini publicly ruled out Inter's interest, while Cristante, the club's current captain, initially sought three years but eventually agreed to two years as the club desired. Both are described as core figures within Gasperini's squad and key players in Roma's rise from sixth to third place. Zeki Çelik will soon add his signature to a fresh contract. The Turkish full-back, who arrived from Lille in 2022, received a scouting approach from Juventus at the end of the season but chose to remain in Rome. Gasperini's faith in the player and Roma's salary offer, boosted by the growth decree, convinced Çelik to commit. His deal will be formalised on 18 June when he returns from post-World Cup leave. Lorenzo Pellegrini, who is keen to stay in the capital, remains in negotiations. The agreement is drawing closer, but the club's number 7 is waiting for owner Ryan Friedkin to ratify the terms and complete the formalities.

Lorenzo Pellegrini's contract extension remains the most delicate issue on Roma's transfer agenda, with negotiations still deadlocked over salary and duration. The midfielder is currently out of contract, and his absence from the squad during the early days of pre-season training has not gone unnoticed by his teammates. Roma maintains constant contact with Pellegrini's representatives as they attempt to bridge the gap between the club's offer and the player's demands on both wages and contract length. Paulo Dybala's renewal was recently confirmed as the first major contract confirmation, while Zeki Çelik's extension is in its final formal stages. Despite clear mutual desire to reach an agreement, both sides still need to make concessions. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini considers Pellegrini a key part of his project and has asked owner Ryan Friedkin to accelerate negotiations to resolve the situation as soon as possible, restoring one of the squad's leaders to full status at the outset of the new season.

Diego Moreira has agreed to join Roma, but negotiations between the club and Strasbourg continue over final terms. Roma's sporting director D'Amico has tabled an offer of €30 million plus bonuses and a 10 per cent sell-on clause. Strasbourg are lowering their initial demands but seeking to increase their cut of any future sale to 20 per cent. The 2004-born midfielder has already given his blessing to the transfer, with personal terms agreed at €2 million per year. Ryan Friedkin's arrival in Rome yesterday morning has accelerated the club's transfer activity under head coach Gasperini. Further discussions between Roma and the French club are expected in the coming days to complete the deal. Chelsea, which shares the same ownership structure with Strasbourg, is also involved in parallel negotiations with Roma over Garnacho.