The summer transfer window is starting to heat up, and Roma is at the center of a new approach as the Giallorossi continue to strengthen their attacking lineup under Gian Piero Gasperini.
According to Gianluigi Longari, Dan Ndoye, the Swiss international winger currently playing for Nottingham Forest, has been proposed to Roma. His camp is reportedly seeking a way out of a disappointing period in the East Midlands.
Dan Ndoye: A Winger on Roma’s Radar
Dan Ndoye is a player whose characteristics are familiar to Serie A followers.
The 24-year-old Swiss international developed at OGC Nice and Basel before making his mark at Bologna in the 2023-24 season. There, he excelled under Thiago Motta’s demanding system as a high-energy right winger with an exceptional ability to carry the ball forward and press opponents.
His performances were instrumental in Bologna securing Champions League qualification and earned him a spot in Switzerland’s Euro 2024 squad. His off-ball contributions and versatility across both wings attracted attention from clubs across Europe.
Napoli and Inter Milan were reportedly interested before Ndoye chose the Premier League. Forest paid a fee estimated to be around €40 million plus add-ons, representing one of their most significant expenditures in recent times.
However, the move has not lived up to expectations. Primarily a facilitator who carries the ball, he was essentially asked to replace the vertical threat left by Anthony Elanga’s departure to Newcastle – a poor tactical fit that significantly diminished his impact.
Why Ndoye Has Been Put on the Market
The initiative for this potential transfer comes from the agent rather than the club.
Those close to Ndoye are reportedly exploring options on his behalf, and Roma is among the clubs that have received an offer.
Forest, who finished outside the European qualification spots this season, have not provided the structural stability or the continental stage that Ndoye’s game requires.
As one widely shared observation put it, Ndoye has appeared to be a pressing winger trapped in a team that wanted him to be someone else entirely.
The instability at the City Ground has exacerbated these tactical mismatches, and it is not surprising that his representatives are looking to facilitate a move before a second difficult season further impacts his career.
Whether Forest will approve a sale, and at what valuation given their initial investment, remains an open question.
A loan-to-buy structure might be the most feasible approach, allowing all parties to reduce their risk while Ndoye rebuilds his form in a familiar environment.
What Ndoye Would Bring to Gasperini’s Attack
Roma’s interest, at this stage, makes a degree of tactical sense. Gasperini builds teams around high-pressing, dynamic wide players who are effective both with and without the ball – precisely the profile Ndoye demonstrated so effectively at Bologna.
A return to Serie A would represent a homecoming of sorts for a player who genuinely thrived in the Italian league.
The Giallorossi have already made smart moves in attack, with the arrival of Donyell Malen signaling Gasperini’s ambitions for the Stadio Olimpico.
Roma’s current transfer activity suggests a club that is building deliberately rather than reactively. Adding Ndoye would provide Gasperini with genuine width and pressing intensity on either flank.
He is not a guaranteed starter, but as a player capable of functioning in multiple systems, he is exactly the kind of intelligent depth a Gasperini squad needs.
Familiarity with Serie A alone makes him a lower-risk option compared to many alternatives.
The Obstacle: Zirkzee Comes First
This is where ambition meets financial reality. Roma’s primary attacking target this summer remains Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United, and Gasperini’s side is unlikely to pursue multiple significant additions in the same position simultaneously.
Ndoye’s candidacy is real but conditional. Progress on the Zirkzee front will largely determine how seriously Roma considers this offer.
Inter Milan’s previously reported interest adds a competitive element, although nothing concrete has emerged from that direction.
The question of the transfer fee also looms large: Forest will not willingly absorb a significant loss on a player signed for over €40 million just twelve months prior.
What’s Next in Roma’s Pursuit of Ndoye
The upcoming weeks of negotiations concerning Zirkzee will provide the clearest indication of whether this Ndoye offer progresses beyond an initial discussion.
Should Roma’s pursuit of the Dutch forward stall – due to disagreements on the fee, wages, or United’s willingness to sell – Ndoye could quickly move from a secondary option to a genuine priority.
For Ndoye himself, a return to the league where he truly flourished is an appealing prospect, and Roma under Gasperini offers the structured, high-intensity environment in which he has historically excelled.
The offer has been made. Now, the football world waits to see if the Giallorossi decide to accept it.