On 14th November 2024, Claudio Ranieri was appointed AS Roma manager with the club in a desperate situation. Having lost patience with club legend Daniele De Rossi and Ivan Juric after only sixteen Serie A matches, the “Tinkerman” arrived to change the fortunes of the club. From 12th position in November, AS Roma went on a charge, finishing just outside the Champions League qualification places by one point from Juventus.
Since the turn of the year, the Giallorossi are in fact the side in the best form in the league as a result of one defeat in twenty matches under Ranieri, on matchday 36 against Atalanta (1-2). This momentum propelled AS Roma into fifth position and secured European football, which seemed a distinct impossibility back in November 2024. Former Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini has taken the reins at the Stadio Olimpico and as usually happens when a new manager arrives, a flurry of transfer activity is expected. But who could make the move to Rome this summer?
Gianluca Scamacca (Atalanta)
Increased transfer speculation when a new manager arrives is expected, which is usually rife with rumours surrounding players from the previous place of employment, and it is no different with Gasperini. After nine years of developing Atalanta and a raft of players that have been through the club, it is only natural that Gasperini has a few favourites. While Mario Pašalić has reportedly decided to stay in Bergamo, a reunion with Gianluca Scamacca could be on the cards.
The rangy Italian striker hails from Rome and came through the academies at Lazio and AS Roma before departing for PSV Eindhoven in January 2015. Scamacca’s journey has taken him to Sassuolo, Cremonese, PEC Zwolle, Ascoli, Genoa, and West Ham United, but Scamacca has arguably played his best football under Gasperini at Atalanta. Although the Italian international basically missed the entirety of the 2024/25 season with an ACL injury, Scamacca plundered 19 goals in all competitions in the 2023/24 season, contributing six goals in Atalanta’s Europa League success.
Federico Chiesa (Liverpool)
There was a lot of optimism amongst Liverpool fans when the signing of Federico Chiesa was announced for a cut-price fee of €15 million. However, despite Liverpool winning the Premier League, Chiesa was a bit part player for Arne Slot’s side, behind the likes of Mo Salah, Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo, Diogo Jota, and even Darwin Núñez in the pecking order.
With Liverpool looking to reinvigorate their attack, Chiesa could be one of the first players out the Anfield door. But with plenty of Serie A experience under his belt, this could benefit AS Roma. The 27-year-old still has many better seasons ahead of him and having racked up 235 appearances in Serie A with Fiorentina and Juventus, including 47 goals and 43 assists, Rome might be the ideal location for Chiesa to re energize his career and boost Roma’s odds in AS Roma betting predictions next season in Serie A, the Europa League, and the Coppa Italia.
Jhon Lucumi (Bologna)
One of the areas Gasperini is looking to strengthen is the defence. The 35 goals conceded ranked Roma as the equal second-best defence behind league winners Napoli (27), but the departure of Angelino to Saudi Arabia has left a hole in the left side of the Roma backline. One name that has been heavily linked with AS Roma is Colombian Jhon Lucumi. Fresh off the back of winning the Coppa Italia with Bologna, the left-footed centre back is seemingly suited to Gasperini’s style of football. However, the €28 million release clause fee could be a stumbling block unless funds can be raised by the capital club. The sale of Angelino could go some way to funding this transfer.
