Roma give up on signing Dutch-Nigerian Joshua Zirkzee, shift attention to Mathys Tel

Roma eyeing a move for Mathys Tel after giving up on their pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee has become the club’s primary transfer focus ahead of January.

Zirkzee, who has Dutch and Nigerian roots, had been Roma’s preferred option as they searched for a reliable striker to strengthen Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad for the second half of the season.

Roma initially viewed the Manchester United forward as a realistic signing, especially amid reports suggesting he wanted a fresh start.

The striker, 24, had been linked with a January exit after struggling for minutes, but his goal in United’s 2-1 victory over Crystal Palace changed the picture.

He later stressed he was “happy” at the club, dampening Roma’s hopes of securing his signature.

According to Il Messaggero, Gasperini had been strongly in favour of bringing Zirkzee to the Stadio Olimpico.

However, the situation now appears unworkable, forcing the Italian club to reassess their options in the market.

Roma have therefore redirected their attention toward Mathys Tel, the French attacker currently at Tottenham Hotspur.

Tel, 20, has endured a quiet campaign so far, making only three Premier League starts and struggling to secure consistent playing time under Spurs’ management.

The Roma hierarchy believe Tel offers the right blend of pace, versatility, and long-term potential to fit Gasperini’s system. His ability to play across the front line is seen as a major advantage as Roma seek greater attacking depth.

The January window will be critical for Roma as they aim to boost their squad for a top-four push.

With Zirkzee looking increasingly unattainable, Tel has moved to the top of their shortlist, and early indications suggest the club are ready to accelerate discussions with Tottenham.