The Roma summer window of 2026 opens with the squad in an awkward state. The previous window’s recruitment was uneven. The senior players are at the age where another major financial commitment to the same group is risky. The genuine priorities are narrower than the social media wishlist would suggest. A clear-eyed look at the squad reveals where the actual work needs to happen.

The midfield is the question

The midfield is where most of Roma’s structural problems have shown up this season. The lack of a consistent ball-progressing midfielder is well-known. The replacement options inside the squad have not stepped up to the level required for European competition.

The summer priority should be one elite ball-progressing midfielder, signed to a long contract. Not two midfield additions. One. The squad has midfield bodies. It does not have midfield quality at the position that matters.

The names being linked depend on what level Roma’s ownership is willing to commit financially. The mid-tier options on the rumour list would be incremental improvements rather than transformations. The elite options would change the team’s ceiling but require a financial commitment that may not be available.

The defensive question

The central defensive partnership has been stable but is getting older. One of the two senior central defenders will likely be in their final productive season at the level Roma needs. Identifying a successor and integrating them this summer is the responsible plan.

The full-back positions are decent but not elite. The right-back specifically has been a position where Roma has cycled through options without finding a long-term answer. A serious right-back acquisition would address a known weakness.

The attacking question

Roma’s attack has been productive enough through the season. The headline goal-scorer is at an age where the next contract decision is significant. Whether Roma extend or replace is the question.

If the headline goal-scorer is extended, the attack is largely set for next season. If not, the rebuild is more significant and requires a different summer plan.

The wide attacking options are an area where Roma has depth but not enough elite talent. A serious wide signing would be useful, but the priority should be midfield first.

What Roma should not do

Sign too many players. The squad does not need a major overhaul. It needs targeted upgrades at specific positions.

Spend on glamour signings. Roma’s history of high-profile arrivals that did not work out is long. The summer should prioritise football-fit over name recognition.

Sell key players for short-term financial reasons. The ownership has navigated UEFA’s financial regulations through the last several windows. Selling productive assets to meet short-term targets has hurt the squad in past windows.

What the supporters should pay attention to

The first major signing of the window will set the tone. If the first signing is a midfield upgrade at the level required, the window is heading in the right direction. If the first signing is a peripheral position with limited squad impact, the priorities are not being addressed.

The departures matter as much as the arrivals. The squad has several players whose contributions are limited but whose wages are significant. Moving these wages off the books creates the room for the targeted upgrades.

The coach’s input on the priorities should be visible. A window driven by the ownership rather than the coach’s tactical needs typically produces incoherence. The signals from the coaching staff through the window will indicate whether the window is being run well.

The realistic ceiling

Roma’s realistic ceiling for next season depends on what happens in this window. With the right midfield signing and a defensive succession plan, the squad can compete for a top-four position. Without the right midfield signing, the squad probably finishes in the same band it occupied this season.

The difference between the two outcomes is one or two specific signings done well. The window is short. The competition for the relevant players is significant. The execution has to be quick.

A note on the financial reality

Roma’s financial position constrains the window. The conversation about elite midfield signings has to be honest about what the budget will support. The fans’ expectations and the financial reality have not always aligned in past windows, and the disappointments that followed are well-documented.

The honest framing is that Roma can sign one significant player this window. Possibly two if the wages from departures are managed well. The work is to make sure those one or two signings address the genuine priorities rather than the social media wishlist.