AS Roma Push for Joshua Zirkzee and Giacomo Raspadori in January Window

AS Roma is really looking to shake things up in January. The club is reportedly pushing hard to bring in two new attacking players. We’re talking about Joshua Zirkzee from Manchester United and Giacomo Raspadori from Atletico Madrid. This is big news for Roma fans hoping for some extra firepower this winter.

Roma’s January Ambitions Take Shape

Roma has already put forward options for both players. That’s according to Tuttosport, as reported in ESPN’s transfer rumor update on December 26, 2025. It seems like the Giallorossi are pretty serious about these moves. They want to get deals done quickly.

The Zirkzee Situation at Old Trafford

Joshua Zirkzee’s future at Manchester United looks a bit uncertain. United apparently turned down Roma’s first offer for him. Roma wanted him on loan for the rest of the season. Then they’d sign him permanently if they qualified for the Champions League. But Manchester United isn’t too keen on that. Yahoo Sports reported that United wants a permanent transfer straight away for the Dutch forward.

Zirkzee himself seems pretty eager to leave Old Trafford. He signed for the Reds for around £36.5 million in July 2024. But he hasn’t played much under Ruben Amorim since the 2025/2026 season started. Injuries to other players, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko, gave him a few starts.

He even scored an equalizer against Crystal Palace. But he knows Benjamin Sesko’s return will probably push him back to the bench. A move back to Serie A, where he could find his best form, sounds pretty good to him. It’s a different kind of pressure there, maybe less intense than the Premier League.

Raspadori’s Potential Atletico Exit

Then there’s Giacomo Raspadori from Atletico Madrid. This deal also has its own complications. Atletico Madrid is only willing to let Raspadori leave on loan. But there’s a catch, of course. That loan deal would need to include a mandatory clause for a permanent purchase. That’s what Marca reported. So, it’s not a simple loan for Roma. They’d have to commit to buying him later. This makes things a bit tougher to negotiate, you know?

No one is confirming the exact deal values yet. And we don’t know what the players have said directly. Or how the negotiations are really going right now. But the intent from Roma is clear. They want these guys.

Roma’s Club Philosophy

AS Roma, as a club, has a pretty strong tradition. They’re known for identifying and developing young talents. Even if they don’t have as many trophies as Juventus or Milan, their youth academy has produced some notable names.

Gianluca Scamacca, for example, came through their system. Stefano Okaka too. They focus on bringing players up. So, while Zirkzee and Raspadori aren’t academy products, it shows the club’s commitment to building for the future. They want quality players. They want to compete at the highest level.

What’s Next for Roma’s Transfer Hunt?

So, Roma’s transfer efforts are definitely heating up. The club seems determined to land these attacking reinforcements. But getting Zirkzee and Raspadori won’t be easy. Manchester United wants a permanent deal for Zirkzee, not a conditional loan. And Atletico wants a mandatory purchase clause for Raspadori. These are big demands. It’s going to be interesting to see how these negotiations play out as the January window progresses. Roma’s sporting director will have a busy few weeks, for sure. They need to find a way to make these deals happen.