Summerville deal nears completion as Roma close in on record signing

Roma are monitoring the market for attacking wingers, and a new name has been added to the list drawn up by Tony D'Amico: Brazilian talent William Gomes of Porto, according to journalist Ekrem Konur. The Giallorossi are reportedly following the progress of the 2006-born player closely, alongside Manchester United and Liverpool. The 20-year-old's performances have drawn the attention of several European scouts, although Porto's high valuation already represents a significant obstacle to any possible deal. Gomes was born on 15 March 2006 and is a left-footed offensive winger who usually plays from the right. He came through at São Paulo and joined Porto in January 2025 for around €9 million. In Portugal he has gradually earned more game time. Last season he scored 8 goals in 28 appearances in the Portuguese league, adding 4 goals in 11 Europa League matches. The current season has confirmed his progress: in his first seven Liga Portugal appearances he has scored 2 goals and provided 2 assists. Technically, he is a very attacking winger, quick especially over the first few metres and especially dangerous when he can run directly at a defender. Dribbling, acceleration and his ability to cut inside onto his left foot to shoot are the qualities that most set him apart. He can also start from the opposite flank, but it is mainly from the right that he uses his left foot to move into the middle of the pitch. On paper, the profile matches several qualities Roma are looking for: young, already accustomed to European football, capable of creating superiority in one-on-one situations and confident in front of goal. He is exactly the type of player who could add to the attacking options available to Gasperini. The main problem is price. Porto recently tied Gomes down until 30 June 2031, and the new contract includes a release clause of €100 million. Valuations from the leading specialist websites currently hover around €25-30 million, but the Portuguese club holds a very strong negotiating position and would have no need to sell him on favourable terms. For this reason, for now, the talk is exclusively of monitoring rather than negotiations. Roma are following the player, as are Manchester United and Liverpool, aware that any move would require a significant investment.

Emanuele Lulli has agreed a contract renewal with Roma, with the deal running to 2031. His previous contract was due to expire in 2027. The 19-year-old is set to start on the right flank tonight at Napoli. Reported by Daniele Aloisi in Il Messaggero, the news came on Friday, as Roma prepare for the trip to the Maradona with an injury list that includes Mile Svilar, Manu Koné, Lorenzo Pellegrini and Paulo Dybala. Despite the absences, Roma's mood remains positive, and Donyell Malen returns to the attack. Cristante and Malen are both available again after missing the last league match. Malen leads the line and is looking for a brace after scoring a double at the same ground last year. Matías Soulé will partner him up front. Gian Piero Gasperini has also planned a rotation with Nahuel Molina, who played in the Champions League and will feature again on Tuesday against Cagliari. At 19 years and 68 days, Lulli could make his sixth start for the club. Only Marquinhos has started his first six games in a Roma shirt at a younger age, at 18 years and 181 days. The main puzzle is in the attacking midfield. Rodrigo Mora is pushing for a start but could begin on the bench. The likely solution is to deploy Bryan Cristante in that role, where he can also provide cover in front of Lobotka, McTominay or Anguissa. Cristante returns from the match against Inter. In defence, Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso are all back in contention.

Cristante is in Roma's squad for the trip to Napoli, according to the squad list published by Il Messaggero. Coach Gian Piero Gasperini is short in the final third, with Pellegrini, Dybala, Svilar and Koné all sidelined. He has only Mora and Soulé behind Malen, and is considering playing Cristante further forward. The squad list names Balerdi, Ghilardi, Hermoso, Koulierakis, Lulli, Mancini, Molina, N'Dicka, Rensch and Wesley in defence; Cristante, De Roon, Mora and Pisilli in midfield; and Malen, Soulé and Castro in attack. Camara and Di Nunzio are also listed. The situation is serious enough that Roma are expected to act in the January transfer window. The club must spend to give Gasperini at least two reinforcements between attack and the flanks. Gittens and Leweling remain on the list, and the club has not ruled out the complicated pursuit of Endrick. A new left-back name has emerged: Alejandro Balde of Barcelona, who is finding few minutes under Flick and has been offered by Jorge Mendes. His name joins that of Oosterwolde. Sky Sport reports that Roma are close to the final details of a contract renewal for Lulli, which would run to 2031. The deal has not yet been officially announced, and the last points must be settled before it is formalised. Speaking to Corriere dello Sport at the Amsterdam stop of the EA7 World Legends Padel Tour, Stekelenburg was asked about Svilar. He said: "If I had to put him in the top five... no, not yet. After all, there are Courtois, Neuer and others. But he is a young lad and he is doing an excellent job. He just has to keep growing." Asked to choose between Højlund and Malen if he were a sporting director, Graziani said: "Malen without thinking twice. Hojlund I like a lot, and sometimes he looks to me like a 'little Lukaku' the way he leads the attack and the physical battles he takes on, and he has a great sense of goal; but Malen is my ideal striker, for the way he attacks space, for his dribbling, for the acceleration he has in the last twenty metres and because he can roam across the whole attacking front."

Roma came from behind to draw 3-3 at Napoli's Maradona stadium, their third consecutive draw in a big Serie A match after a goalless game at Como. Leonardo Balerdi, who came off the bench, scored a brace, while Matías Soulé was the standout performer in attack. The evening began badly for Roma, but the team refused to give up and fought back to level the match. Italian newspapers gave Soulé between 7 and 8 out of 10, and Balerdi between 7.5 and 8. Evan Ndicka was the only member of the starting defence to come out with credit, rated 6 to 7. Gollini earned 6 to 7, Cristante 6 to 7, and de Roon 5.5 to 6.5. Malen was below par and was rated between 5 and 6. Hermoso's marks ranged from 4.5 to 6.5. Wesley was rated between 5 and 6.5, and Mancini between 5.5 and 6. Gasperini was given between 6.5 and 7 for his handling of the game. Roma made several changes during the match. At the 58th minute, Balerdi replaced Hermoso, Molina came on for Rensch, and Castro replaced Pisilli. Ghilardi entered for Mancini in the 83rd minute, and Mora came on for Malen at the same point. Molina was rated 6 to 6.5, Castro between 5 and 6.5, and Balerdi, as a substitute, was rated 7.5 to 8.

Roma came from behind to draw at Napoli's Stadio Maradona, with Balerdi scoring a brace off the bench to rescue a point in a match that began badly for the Giallorossi. It is the third draw in three big league matches for Roma, following a goalless draw at Como. Malen was absent from the lineup, and Soulé lit up the comeback. The Italian newspapers rated the performances. Soulé was the standout performer, earning 7.5 from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport, 7 from La Repubblica and Il Corriere della Sera, and 8 from Il Tempo. Balerdi, who came on for Hermoso at half-time, was the match-winner from the bench, rated 8 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Messaggero and Il Tempo, and 7.5 by Il Corriere della Sera. Ndicka was the only starting defender to earn consistent praise, rated 7 by La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport. Gasperini received a 7 from La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Corriere dello Sport, and 6.5 from Il Messaggero, La Repubblica, Il Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo. Gollini was rated 6.5 by most outlets and 7 by La Repubblica. Cristante earned a 7 from Il Messaggero and 6.5 from Il Tempo. Molina came on for Rensch at half-time and was rated 6.5 by La Gazzetta dello Sport and Il Tempo, and 6 by La Repubblica and Il Corriere della Sera. Castro, who replaced Pisilli, was rated 6.5 by Il Corriere dello Sport and 6 by La Gazzetta dello Sport, Il Corriere della Sera and Il Tempo. Malen was rated between 5 and 6 across the papers. Mancini and Wesley received mixed marks, while Mora and Ghilardi came on late without ratings. The ratings show the sharpest debate over the central defensive and attacking performers, with Balerdi's impact from the bench the most discussed. The papers agree that Roma's fight in the second half changed the match.

Roma came back from behind to draw 3-3 with Napoli at the Maradona in a thrilling Serie A clash, with Leonardo Balerdi scoring the decisive equaliser late on. Napoli, who went ahead through Anguissa's spectacular overhead kick, were pegged back after the break as Soulé pulled Roma level. Gasperini's switch, bringing on Balerdi, paid off immediately: the Argentine defender, just on the pitch, scored the leveller and took advantage of a Napoli wobble. McTominay restored Napoli's lead before Roma struck again. Balerdi got his second goal of the match in the final minutes, in a finish that was protested by the home side after the equaliser was contested. The game was billed as one of the best seen so far in Serie A for pace, tactical approach and twists. Massimiliano Allegri abandoned caution, deploying De Bruyne as a number ten, a move the report describes as a happy intuition, and McTominay gave Napoli the lead. Anguissa opened the scoring with a magnificent overhead kick. Napoli played the best match of their season, facing Roma openly, but Malen missed a clear chance one-on-one with Meret. Napoli's familiar dip in tension at the start of the second half allowed Roma back into the contest. After the final whistle, tension ran high. Allegri, visibly furious about a red card and the refereeing, said: "Them again, they had it in their pocket. An instinctive reaction that silences you when, with calm heads, you analyse the match," said the Livorno-born coach. "A very good game from both teams, but there are also moments when you have to defend. Unfortunately, we let them come back many times and tonight we threw two points away. I said nothing to the referee, but whichever way I move, they send me off. This time, with the fine, we'll do some more charity." Gasperini lamented the chances his side wasted, while praising their spirit: "We felt we could win it, but in the end it's fine like this. I saw a Napoli side that is growing a lot, but for me the glass half full is something he simply doesn't see. The result, our only declared target, is missing." The draw leaves Roma's high league position intact and confirms their steely character.