Massara on Roma investment for Malen and Vaz, but warning on Zirkzee

Roma director Frederic Massara outlines the arrival of Donyell Malen and Robinio Vaz, confirms Manchester United ‘closed the door’ on Joshua Zirkzee, but other players might leave.

It kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino at 17.00 GMT (18.00 CET).

You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens from all today’s Serie A games on the Liveblog.

These teams met just five days ago, when Torino knocked Roma out of the Coppa Italia Round of 16 with a 3-2 thriller in the Capital.

Roma have already been active on the transfer market this week, bringing in Malen from Aston Villa, and Robinio Vaz from Olympique Marseille for a total investment of over €52m.

“These are two strong players, obviously one is a young talent with prospects, the other is an international who already has a name on the European stage,” Massara told Sky Sport Italia.

Are they working with Gasperini to identify more reinforcements in this session?

“There are still 15 days left of the transfer window and we’ll try to be ready for any opportunities, but we’ll have to see how the situation evolves.

“We have a daily discussion and our only priority is to create a stronger Roma team, so of course we have a shared vision.”

Considering the injury crisis ruling out Artem Dovbyk, Evan Ferguson, Leon Bailey, Stephan El Shaarawy and Tommaso Baldanzi, coach Gian Piero Gasperini decided to throw Malen in from the start for his debut.

Baldanzi is also widely expected to leave in January, but are there others who could be released too?

“We’ll evaluate in the next few days if there is an opportunity for players who haven’t had much playing time, or who haven’t had the impact that we hoped for,” noted Massara.

“Ferguson arrived after a season where he hadn’t played much, he has improved and was doing better, so it’s a pity he sustained this latest injury, but we are relying on him.”

When it comes to more strikers, the Roma director warns that Manchester United’s Zirkzee is definitely not going to be one of them.

“Manchester United closed the door very clearly a few weeks ago and have not opened it again, so that is not an issue.”

Lorenzo Pellegrini also returns to the starting XI after a month on the treatment table, resting Matias Soulé.