Rome Transfer Market: The Giallorossi Aren’t Giving Up and Are Counting on Romelu Lukaku
Roma isn’t stopping at Rodrigo Mora. The Giallorossi’s sporting director, D’Amico, is also working on a deal for Malick Fofana, a 21-year-old from Lyon. The player has reportedly been offered a five-year contract worth approximately 2 million euros per season, while negotiations with the French club are centered on a transfer fee in the range of 35 million.
The Fofana option had already emerged in recent weeks as a possible alternative in case negotiations for Mora fell through completely. At that point, Roma had reached the stage of evaluating a €40 million offer for the Belgian winger, before the sudden resumption of talks with Porto brought Mora back to the top of the priority list. Now, with the deal for the Portuguese player nearing completion, the Giallorossi are once again knocking on Lyon’s door with renewed conviction.
Initially, Mora and Fofana were considered alternatives, but the favorable terms secured in the deal with Porto reportedly prompted Roma to revise their plans. The total investment for both players would be around 60 million euros plus bonuses—a significant sum but one that fits within the budget allocated by the Friedkins for the transfer market.
Gian Piero Gasperini himself is said to have pushed strongly for the signing of Fofana, convincing sporting director D’Amico to pursue the deal despite initial difficulties. The coach had already clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with a squad that remains incomplete, stating: “It’s clear that, from here on out, I expect something. Several players have left, and this team absolutely needs to be completed—anyone can see that. Having at least two players per position is essential for a team competing in cup competitions. Those who don’t, then, pay dearly.” These words highlight the need for a deeper roster ahead of a season that will see the Giallorossi competing on multiple fronts—the league, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League.
The main obstacle for Fofana, however, is timing. Lyon does not want to part with the winger before the two-leg Champions League playoff against Fenerbahçe, led by former Giallorossi striker Romelu Lukaku. If the French side is eliminated—perhaps due to the Belgian star—it could facilitate the deal, while qualifying for the next round would risk complicating it and driving up the player’s valuation.
It’s worth noting that Lyon had previously set the bar high, asking for 45 million with no room for negotiation—a demand that had effectively stalled all talks. However, the Rossoblù club’s financial situation has changed: the need to raise funds in the final weeks of the transfer window would have made Lyon more flexible regarding its financial demands, opening up room for maneuver that did not previously exist.
Also in the background is the candidacy of Luis Henrique, currently with Inter but likely to see less playing time following the arrival of Djed Spence. The Brazilian has reportedly already given his consent to the transfer to Rome, and the clubs are said to have reached a preliminary agreement based on a total of 30 million, comprising a fixed fee and bonuses. Roma, however, has chosen to focus all its efforts on the Fofana front for the time being, postponing any final decision on the former Inter player to a later stage.
