Summerville drifts further from Roma as West Ham demand €50m

Gian Piero Gasperini has taken direct control of Roma's transfer strategy and market operations, signalling the club is targeting a title challenge rather than mere consolidation. Speaking at a press conference on Friday, the head coach made clear his expectations: addressing Çelik's status with a pointed "thank you for your contribution, but we can find better", urging a renewal for Pellegrini, and criticising Soulé's condition after a month and a half away from competitive football, with the winger set to depart. Gasperini's dialogue with the club operates without intermediaries this time, a marked shift from last season's mediation structure. His partnership with director of sport D'Amico is described as total and unified. Roma's transfer activity—including the ongoing Nusa-Summerville pursuit—reflects the head coach's stated aim to transform the club's competitive scope. Speaking to the board, Gasperini employed both encouragement and pressure: "We are slow, we could move faster, but once the engine is in motion, it runs well." The implication is clear: if Roma's pending market moves materialise, the club must recalibrate its ambitions upwards.

Roma are working simultaneously on two alternative attacking targets for the left flank and could make a final decision imminently. Gasperini and the sporting director D'Amico are actively pursuing both Nusa and Summerville, with the Norwegian reportedly the profile that better fits the coach's overall vision and long-term ideas. For Nusa, discussions with both his club and representatives have progressed and a decisive move to resolve final details could arrive today. For West Ham's Summerville, the financial gap has narrowed on both player and club sides. Roma will not exceed the salary ceiling it has set for wages—nothing that surpasses what the squad that brought Roma back to European ambition earns—with a possible agreement on 4 or 4.5 million euros annually and approximately 45 million to the London club to reach the level of the player's release clause, which can be activated by midnight today. Talks continue but Roma have not yet entered a decisive phase, though time is pressing given Summerville's admirers in the Premier League. Summerville has a friend at Roma in Donyell Malen. Meanwhile, Chelsea talks over Garnacho have been put on hold; Roma want a loan deal while the Blues prefer a permanent transfer or early monetisation guarantee. Separately, Koné and Soulé remain possible sale candidates to balance the financial fair play requirements, though no formal offers have yet arrived at the training ground.

Roma have made contact with West Ham over Dutch winger Summerville, with head coach Gasperini personally calling the player to persuade him to move to the Stadio Olimpico. Summerville has shown willingness to join the capital club, but West Ham rejected Roma's initial offer of €40 million plus €5 million in bonuses. The London club is holding out for €50 million, forcing Roma to increase their proposal. The Friedkin Group must now decide whether to raise their bid to meet West Ham's valuation. Roma face competition from Aston Villa, who received £117 million from Chelsea for the sale of Rogers. Gasperini's direct involvement in the pursuit underscores the importance Roma place on landing Summerville, though the decision on whether to match West Ham's asking price ultimately rests with the club's ownership.