Roma’s search for a winger took two major blows as Jamie Leweling chose to remain at Stuttgart and Chelsea maintained their refusal to loan Jamie Bynoe-Gittens.
Roma’s winger search remains unresolved heading into the final hours of the transfer window.
The Giallorossi reached an agreement with Stuttgart for Jamie Leweling, only for the player to reject the move. Roma then considered another attempt for Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, but Chelsea reportedly remain unwilling to approve a loan.
Luiz Henrique could now return to the foreground, while Roma must also complete several outgoing transfers and resist reported interest in Manu Koné and Matías Soulé.
Leweling rejects Roma transfer
Roma’s proposed move for Leweling has definitively collapsed after the German international decided to remain at Stuttgart.
The Giallorossi offered €30 million plus €5 million in bonuses and reached a total agreement with the Bundesliga club. Stuttgart approved both the value and structure of the transfer, leaving only the player’s final authorization outstanding.
Leweling initially appeared open to joining Roma but unexpectedly reconsidered the move. Roma held further discussions with the winger and his representatives throughout Sunday evening, but those contacts failed to change his position.
According to Francesco Casano, Leweling’s hesitation was not connected to financial terms or interest from another club. His decision was instead based on personal considerations surrounding whether he wanted to leave Stuttgart.
Gianluca Di Marzio and Matteo Moretto subsequently confirmed that Leweling had rejected Roma and chosen to remain in Germany.
Follow the complete Leweling transfer timeline.
Chelsea maintain no-loan position on Gittens
Following Leweling’s rejection, Roma evaluated a dramatic return for Bynoe-Gittens.
Di Marzio reported that Chelsea could potentially consider a €5 million paid loan carrying an option to buy worth approximately €55 million. Such a structure would have allowed Roma to sign the winger immediately without committing to a guaranteed permanent purchase.
However, Filippo Biafora subsequently reported that Chelsea’s position has not changed: Bynoe-Gittens will not be allowed to leave on loan.
The refusal represents another major obstacle for Roma, who have pursued the English winger throughout the final stages of the market. Unless Chelsea reconsider their position or Roma propose a different formula, the operation appears extremely difficult to complete.
Read the latest on Roma’s pursuit of Bynoe-Gittens.
Roma could return for Luiz Henrique
Luiz Henrique could return to the top of Roma’s shortlist following the breakdown of the Leweling negotiations.
Roma previously reached an agreement in principle with Zenit and received the Brazilian winger’s approval. The reported operation was worth approximately €35 million, although complications involving payments and commissions contributed to the negotiations being placed on hold.
The Giallorossi froze the deal while prioritizing Leweling, but Di Marzio reports that they will now attempt to reopen discussions with Zenit.
Completing the move will not be straightforward because of the limited time remaining. Roma must determine whether the previous agreement can be revived quickly enough and whether the financial obstacles can be resolved.
Albert Gudmundsson has also reportedly been proposed as a possible alternative.
Gasperini rules out Koné departure
Gian Piero Gasperini firmly rejected suggestions that Manu Koné could leave Roma before the deadline.
Chelsea contacted the midfielder’s representatives while considering potential replacements for Enzo Fernández, but Roma have not received an official offer.
“Absolutely not,” Gasperini said when asked about Koné’s possible departure. “Nobody has ever spoken to me about departures, neither Koné nor anyone else.”
The Roma coach also explained that the ownership does not intend to authorize an important sale during the final hours of the market.
“I know that the ownership does not agree with selling players,” he added. “We have never received any official offers, so this is another report that must be denied.”
Read Gasperini’s complete post-Lecce press conference.
Soulé expected to remain at Roma
Matías Soulé has also been linked with a late departure following reported contact involving Fulham, Newcastle and Atlético Madrid.
However, Gasperini stated that Roma had not received a concrete offer for the Argentine. Reports from England also indicated that Newcastle were not actively pursuing the attacker.
Soulé started and scored during Roma’s 4-0 victory over Lecce, strengthening the expectation that he will remain part of Gasperini’s squad.
With Leweling rejecting Roma and Chelsea continuing to block a Gittens loan, allowing Soulé to depart would create an even greater need for attacking reinforcements.
El Shaarawy linked with Genoa return
Genoa have reopened negotiations over a potential return for Stephan El Shaarawy, according to Alfredo Pedullà.
The Italian attacker began his professional career with Genoa before joining Milan in 2011. No agreement or proposed transfer formula has yet been reported.
Roma would need to consider the effect of El Shaarawy’s departure on an attacking department Gasperini already considers short.
Read the latest on Genoa’s interest in El Shaarawy.
Roma complete Balerdi and De Roon signings
Roma strengthened their squad by officially completing moves for Leonardo Balerdi and Marten de Roon.
Balerdi joined from Marseille on an initial paid loan with an option to buy that can become mandatory under certain conditions. The Argentine defender travelled with the squad to Lecce shortly after completing his move.
De Roon reunited with Gasperini after asking Atalanta to authorize his departure. The Dutch midfielder was immediately called up and made his Roma debut as an 84th-minute replacement for Paulo Dybala at the Via del Mare.
Atalanta sporting director Cristian Giuntoli confirmed that De Roon personally requested the move to Roma.
“The captain explicitly asked us to let him join Roma, and we could not refuse his request,” Giuntoli told Sky Sport.
El Aynaoui, Ziolkowski and Vaz depart
Roma have also progressed with three important outgoing operations.
Neil El Aynaoui has joined RB Leipzig on a €3 million loan with a further €1 million available in bonuses. The agreement includes a €28 million purchase option, additional bonuses and an 18–20% future resale clause.
Jan Ziolkowski officially moved to Monza on loan. Roma will receive €500,000, while the agreement includes a €17.5 million option to buy and a percentage of a future sale.
Robinio Vaz has approved a move to Hull City after the clubs reached an agreement over a €2 million loan carrying a non-mandatory €30 million purchase option. His travel and medical examinations are expected to follow.
Roma face decisive final hours
Roma’s priority remains the arrival of another winger, but their options are narrowing.
Leweling has chosen Stuttgart, Chelsea continue to resist a Gittens loan and reviving the Luiz Henrique operation will require Roma to resolve several issues quickly.
Gasperini has made his position clear: Roma need more attacking depth for a season involving Serie A and the Champions League. The Giallorossi must now determine whether one of their preferred targets can still arrive or whether a new deadline-day opportunity will emerge.
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