You're not alone if you're concerned about Roma's slow summer transfer market. Speaking to the media after a training session this weekend, Gian Piero Gasperini expressed concerns about his new club's sluggish transfer activity, admitting that Roma was “behind on the transfer market.”
Well, fear no more, Gian Piero. Yes, Roma swung and missed on Palmeiras midfielder Richard Rios (although that may fall more on Rios’ shoulders), but Gasperini is about to welcome two new faces to Trigoria. According
to multiple sources in Italy, including the usual heavyweights, Gianluca Di Marzio and Fabrizio Romano, Roma has finalized separate deals for Brighton forward Evan Ferguson and Lens midfielder Neil Al Aynaoui.
Ferguson, a 20-year-old Irish striker, arrives from Brighton on a one-year loan with a jaw-dropping €40 million option to buy. Ferguson, who will be the first Irish player to wear the Giallorossi jersey, has scored only 13 goals in top-flight play and has missed significant time over the past two seasons due to injuries, including a torn ACL and various ankle issues. Still, despite not making a big splash on the field, Ferguson has always been a highly regarded prospect, and if he has a breakout season under Gasperini, that €40 million option might seem like a steal next summer.
When Ferguson lands in Rome tonight, he'll see another new face wandering around Trigoria. El Aynaoui arrives in the Italian capital on a €25 million deal and is expected to sign a five-year contract with the club, rumored to be worth €1.5 million per season. El Aynaoui, 24, has been a part-time player for most of his career, never earning more than 17 league starts during his brief and missed 10 matches for Lens last season while dealing with hamstring and knee issues.
We'll never know where these two players ranked on the club's wishlist, but thanks to their shared injury history and relative lack of top-flight experience, it'll take every ounce of Gasperini magic for Roma to come out ahead on these deals.
But this is precisely why Roma hired Gasperini—he's a star maker.
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