The 20-year-old Irish forward from Brighton aims to recover his form after a cruciate ligament injury; he will arrive on a free loan with his salary covered by the Giallorossi.
Roma is making a move in attack while they also work on deals for Rios and Wesley. The club is set to provide Gasperini with his desired backup for Dovbyk, potentially freeing up some funds. The Giallorossi have reached an agreement with Brighton for a straight loan deal for Evan Ferguson. The 20-year-old Irish international, valued at €55 million just two years ago, has faced difficulties over the past eighteen months (with both Brighton and West Ham) following a cruciate ligament injury and is now looking to revitalize his career. To highlight his potential, Brighton reportedly rejected a €100 million offer from Chelsea in 2023. Roberto De Zerbi once compared Ferguson to Christian Vieri, noting his defensive work rate similar to `Bobo`. The English club has offered Ferguson to Roma on a free loan, with Roma only responsible for covering his salary (around €1.8 million). A buy option clause is unlikely to be included due to Brighton`s continued belief in the player. The decision now rests with Ferguson, who has taken a couple of days to give his final answer, but the feeling is that the deal is close to completion.
SHOMURODOV DEPARTS
Meanwhile, Roma has finalized the transfer of Eldor Shomurodov to Istanbul Basaksehir. The deal is a paid loan (€3 million) with a buy obligation set at €2.7 million plus bonuses. Roma will also retain a 10% sell-on clause for any future transfer. Shomurodov will sign a two-year contract with an option for a third, marking his definitive departure from Serie A and the Giallorossi after 85 appearances and 13 goals (including 7 last season under Ranieri). Ferguson is expected to take the Uzbek striker`s place, although Rasmus Hojlund, who thrived under Gasperini at Atalanta, was also linked in recent hours. However, Manchester United is reportedly delaying a decision while awaiting permanent transfer offers. Another potential free reinforcement for Gasperini could come from the free agent market: Nicolas Tagliafico, following his departure from Lyon, has reportedly indicated a preference for Roma over Sevilla.
