The transfer window has opened and clubs around Serie A are looking to improve their squads ahead of the new season so we are taking you through the top five Roma transfers targets this summer that Jose Mourinho is interested in.
It was a disappointing end to last season for the Giallorossi as they ended up finishing outside the top-four, despite sitting in third with eight games to go. A run of just one league win in their final eight games meant it was a dire end to the campaign and Mourinho’s side also suffered a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat against Sevilla in the Europa League final.
As a result, Mourinho has some work to do over the summer to improve his squad ahead of the 2023/24 campaign. He has already added Eintracht Frankfurt defender Evan Ndicka and Lyon’s Houssem Aouar on free transfers which has been a positive start and looks like shrewd business. However, Roma will be on a tight budget once again ahead of the new season, despite needing to add recruitments in multiple areas across the squad. Below we take a look at the top five 2023 Roma transfer targets this summer.
Top Five 2023 Roma Transfer Targets
5. Fred (Manchester United)
With both Inter and Milan in the hunt to sign Sassuolo midfielder Davide Frattesi, Roma could turn to Brazil international Fred to add some more quality in the middle of the park. Since it is the Nerazzurri who are in pole position to acquire Frattesi, former United boss Mourinho is targeting Fred as an alternative.
As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea midfielder Mason Mount is on the verge of signing for the Red Devils and is currently undergoing a medical at Carrington. Once the move has officially been completed, that could help facilitate the departure of Fred.
Mourinho is reportedly interested in bringing Fred to the Stadio Olimpico and, having previously worked with the 30-year-old at United, the pair have already an established relationship. Fred has just one year left on his deal at Old Trafford which means Roma could see him as a viable option to also help them stay within the confines of their budget.
4. Marcel Sabitzer (Bayern Munich)
There are plenty of midfielders that have been linked to a move to Roma this summer and one of them is Bayern Munich man Marcel Sabitzer. The Austria international has struggled to settle in Bavaria following his move from Leipzig in 2021 and spent the end of last season on loan at Man United.
Sabitzer may well return to Old Trafford but there is plenty of competition for his signature and, according to Corriere dello Sport, the 29-year-old is an option for Roma if they are unable to sign Frattesi. Mourinho is a fan of of Sabitzer and saw him as an option last summer but couldn’t negotiate a deal with Bayern.
Renato Sanches is also another midfield target if Roma are beaten to Frattesi and, as reported by Gianluca Di Marzio, the Giallorossi are interested in signing the Paris Saint-Germain man. There was a lot of hype surrounding the Portuguese midfielder a few years back but his development has been hampered by injuries.
3. Mason Greenwood (Manchester United)
Rumours are continuing to swirl linking Roma with players at United and it’s no surprise due to the Mourinho connection. With it looking more and more likely that Mason Greenwood will return to action after charges of attempted rape, controlling and coercive behaviour and assault were dropped earlier this year, the Englishman has been linked with a move to Italy.
There have been reports that Greenwood could head to Serie A in a loan move, with the likes of Roma, Juventus, Inter and Milan all linked with the forward, as well as Turkish clubs. Since Mourinho managed the player during his time in the North West, he could be the man to reignite his football career.
2. Davide Frattesi (Sassuolo)
The Sassuolo midfielder remains one of the most highly sought after prospects in Serie A this summer and Roma remain in the running for the 23-year-old, despite it looking like Inter are leading the race to sign him. Latest reports from Fabrizio Romano have reported that Frattesi has agreed personal terms with the Nerazzurri and the club are also getting closer to agreeing a deal with the Neroverdi.
Corriere dello Sport have stated that Roma are now in the position to push for the signing of Frattesi. The Giallorossi had originally made an offer worth €30 million but Sassuolo are looking for a deal worth in the region of €35-40 million. However, Roma will have to move fast if they want to match Inter since Gianluca Di Marzio is also reporting that they have now taken the advantage in acquiring his signature.
1. Gianluca Scamacca (West Ham United)
Reports between Roma and Premier League players are also frequent and La Gazzetta dello Sport believe that General Manager Tiago Pinto is looking at bringing Gianluca Scamacca back to Italy. The 24-year-old forward began his youth career in the Italian capital, firstly with Lazio before moving to rivals Roma, and would be interested in a return back to the Olimpico.
However, it seems as though West Ham would only be willing to let him go on a permanent deal, where as Roma would prefer a loan move. The Giallorossi still have Tammy Abraham, Andrea Belotti and Paulo Dybala on their roster in terms of forward options and so it seems unlikely that they would sanction a large fee to sign Scamacca.
The Roma offense was poor last term as they struggled to hit the back of the net in Serie A. Dybala was the top league goalscorer with 12 to his name but Belotti failed to score in the league, whilst Abraham managed just eight goals in 38 appearances. The English forward is out of action until 2024 due to a serious knee injury as well so it appears Mourinho is keen on strengthening his attacking options.