Summerville explains Al Hilal move: 'It was an easy choice'

Roma and Bologna have agreed terms for the transfer of Argentine forward Santiago Castro to the Stadio Olimpico in a deal worth around €30 million. The 21-year-old is expected to join the Giallorossi in the coming days, ending a summer window that has seen Roma miss out on other targets. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini had watched Mason Greenwood's move from Marseille hijacked by Fenerbahçe and Crysencio Summerville stolen by Al-Hilal, but the club moved swiftly to secure Castro before a similar situation could develop. Castro operates primarily as a centre-forward, a position currently held by Donyell Malen, meaning the Argentine is likely to serve as backup unless Gasperini alters his tactical system. The 21-year-old's numbers last season were modest—11 goals in 51 matches across all competitions—but his work ethic and pressing style align with Gasperini's high-intensity demands. With Roma preparing for Champions League football, his addition offers valuable depth and potential for development under a coach renowned for improving young talent.

With less than a month until the new Serie A season begins, roughly 100 players across the Italian top division remain sidelined from their clubs' plans, weighing heavily on balance sheets rather than contributing on the pitch. Napoli, Juventus and Inter face the most complex situations. Inter must manage Frattesi's declining market value as he seeks regular starting football without success, alongside problems with Asllani and Pavard. Napoli's squad is oversized and needs significant departures; Lukaku's substantial wage at 33 remains an obstacle, as does Lucca. Juventus carries aging contracts and new signings outside their plans, including Arthur, Openda, Douglas Luiz and Nico Gonzalez, who is reportedly unwilling to return to Turin and is also being tracked by Roma. Roma is working to move several players out. Artem Dovbyk's situation appeared complicated due to injury and a high valuation, but the club has found a potential solution in recent days: following Castro's arrival, the Ukrainian could leave on loan to Bologna, pending only his approval. Kumbulla's future also remains to be resolved. Milan faces more contained issues but still needs to find homes for Musah and Loftus-Cheek, while Rafael Leao's future hangs in the balance. Across the rest of Serie A, Atalanta, Bologna and Fiorentina face lighter departures, while Sassuolo and Lazio are among clubs needing to trim their squads before the transfer window closes.

Manu Koné remains at the centre of transfer speculation at Roma, with Manchester United pressing to bring the midfielder to Old Trafford following his impressive World Cup performance. No formal offer has yet reached the club, but United's interest is active. The Red Devils have already invested approximately 100 million euros combined in Tielemans and Santo, and must now prioritise outgoings before moving decisively for Koné. Michael Carrick's immediate focus is securing a left winger and identifying a third midfield reinforcement. Mason Mount, the English midfielder, could shift into that third midfield role internally—a solution that might diminish United's pursuit of Koné. Tchouaméni remains United's primary midfield target. The evolving situation at Old Trafford means Roma's chances of retaining Koné depend partly on developments elsewhere in the Premier League's transfer market.