Gasperini outlines Roma's transfer strategy, names Malen as target
Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini has outlined a clear transfer strategy for the club, naming Borussia Dortmund's Donyell Malen as a target profile and emphasizing a need for a balanced squad. Speaking ahead of Roma's match against Pisa, Gasperini stressed that the immediate focus is securing a Champions League spot, with squad planning to follow.
In a press conference, Gasperini stressed that qualifying for the Champions League is the primary, self-imposed objective for the season. "The club has never asked me for the Champions League, it's a goal we set for ourselves," he stated, adding that the team must first achieve that target before significant squad changes are considered.
Gasperini indicated a clear transfer philosophy, distancing the club from two extremes. He stated the club is no longer willing to pursue players with very high salary demands, while also cautioning against over-reliance on youth. "You can go for players with high contracts, but the ownership no longer intends to do that," he said. "The other idea is to go for very young players, but I'm not sure a club like Roma can absorb too many, because with too many young players you lower the ambitions."
He identified a specific profile as the ideal target, naming Borussia Dortmund's Dutch winger Donyell Malen and Club Brugge's Brazilian winger Wesley as examples of the market segment Roma will target. "The ideal is the Malen-Wesley target, in terms of cost, salary, etcetera," Gasperini explained. "It's not easy, but it's possible." He stressed the need for a middle path, focusing on a few, high-impact signings rather than a high volume of new players, referencing the high turnover of the past two years.
Gasperini also addressed the contract situations of several players, including captain Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose contract expires in 2025. He praised the squad's mentality, stating his focus is solely on the final seven games. The manager also clarified his relationship with sporting director Florent Ghisolfi and CEO Lina Souloukou, stating his only objective is to "improve teams and make them stronger."
With a crucial run-in ahead, Gasperini made it clear that all talk of the summer window is secondary. "Now we have to think about Pisa. If we win, we are closer. Now I only think about Pisa," he concluded, deferring all transfer discussions until after the season's conclusion.
