Miotto’s Musings: Solbakken Back to Norway, Bove and Abraham Moving Abroad, Roma Looking For Reinforcements at Lyon

While some departures have been trickling out of Trigoria recently—arrivederci, Nicola Zalewski and Enzo Le Fée—the rumormongers persist in speculating on just how much money Roma needs to find before the end of June, when books close for the 2024-2025 rendition of Financial Fair Play. Depending on who you ask, the club is either a couple million short or one strategic sale away from salvation—unless, of course, they’re planning something more drastic. As always, Miotto’s Musings is here to analyze some of these moves, and who knows, maybe I’ll talk you into the value behind sniffing around for spare parts from a relegated Olympique Lyonnais side along the way.

Is Solbakken Norway Bound?

Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images

The News: After never truly gelling in Rome and not really gelling on a loan to Empoli either, it looks like Ola Solbakken may finally be heading for a permanent exit. Nrk.no is now reporting that two Norwegian clubs—Rosenborg and Brann—are reportedly making moves to secure a return to the Eliteserien for Ola. The website suggests that talks are ongoing, but Roma’s FFP crunch may push the Giallorossi to get a deal over the line. Regardless of what happens with this particular path, though, it certainly seems like Solbakken’s time with a Roma contract is coming to a close.

Miotto’s Musing: Solbakken arrived with many hoping that he would be a classic “smart signing”—low cost, high upside, a Khvicha Kvaratskhelia for the Giallorossi—but he never found his rhythm in Rome. It’s always hard to say in these situations whether it was a system issue, a talent issue, or just bad timing, but whatever the case may be, Solbakken’s stints in Giallorosso and Empoli blue both fizzled into footnotes. A return to Norway feels like the right epilogue, and if it helps Roma balance the FFP books in the process, all the better. Still, it’s hard not to wonder what could’ve been if the spark had ever caught fire.

Bove and Abraham Likely to Leave Serie A

Photo by Luciano Rossi/AS Roma via Getty Images

The News: Just as reports are suggesting that Solbakken is not long for a Giallorossi contract, there are two once-key, now-peripheral players still on the books who are likely to be in different kits following the end of the summer mercato. The first is Edoardo Bove, who’s back at Trigoria after his loan at Fiorentina was cut short by the heart issue that surfaced during a match against Inter last December. La Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that Bove is hoping for medical clearance to return to the field in July—but Italy’s strict regulations on cardiac-related conditions may push him toward a new beginning abroad, with Roma open to a foreign loan or transfer should the right opportunity arise.

Then there’s Tammy Abraham, who, fresh off a Milan loan and still looking a shadow of his peak self, has drawn a €20 million bid from Zenit St. Petersburg that features a €5 million a year contract. Despite that hefty contract offer, Sky Sport and Gianluca Di Marzio suggest that Abraham isn’t sold on the destination just yet, even though offers for the Englishman are few and far between.

Miotto’s Musing: There’s a certain melancholy to watching players like Bove and Tammy, who were once thought of as stars for Roma’s present and future, drift toward quiet exits. Bove, the academy kid who once seemed like a future Roman legend, now faces challenges far beyond managing a dip in form or playing for a coach whose tactics don’t gel with his playstyle. Bove’s collapse this season is practically guaranteed to push him out of Italy and toward England if he wants to keep playing football—the Premier League’s rules are kinder to those who have had episodes like his. Meanwhile, Tammy’s been offered a gilded lifeline by Zenit but hesitates at moving St. Petersburg. Maybe he’s just hoping someone remembers just how good of a striker he was when he lit up the Olimpico and Stamford Bridge.

Either way, neither player looks set to wear a Roma kit again, and if their moves happen soon, it could help the Giallorossi avoid selling Evan Ndicka or Manu Koné—moves that could shape Roma’s summer far more than these quiet farewells.

Tanner Tessman Emerging As Midfield Reinforcement Option

Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/USSF/Getty Images for USSF

The News: With Leandro Paredes essentially gone to Boca Juniors and Roma in search of midfield reinforcements to secure once the FFP deadline has passed, La Gazzetta Dello Sport reports that American youngster Tanner Tessmann is emerging as a new name on the club’s radar. The American international and former Venezia player currently plies his wares at at Lyon—a side just relegated to Ligue 2 and facing a massive financial crisis—and given that financial squeeze, Tessmann could be available for a reported €6–7 million. While Gazzetta doesn’t suggest that he’s a target on the same level of Matt O’Riley or Franck Kessié for Gasperini’s midfield, he is still an intriguing buy-low opportunity for a club looking to keep its financials in good shape.

Miotto’s Musing: A move for Tessman wouldn’t carry the star power of a Franck Kessié signing or the polish of a transfer for a closer-to-finished article like Matt O’Riley, but there’s something compelling about Roma bringing in a player who seems like he could be a Gasperini Special just waiting to happen. If you’ve seen him play for Venezia, Lyon, or the USMNT, you can see the vision for why Roma and GPG would want Tessman: when given the support any player needs, he can be creative midfielder with seemingly boundless energy, unlocking defenses while simultaneously providing box-to-box support. Especially when the reported fee is only €6 million and change, you get why Roma has put him on their midfield shortlist—Lyon’s relegation could be Roma’s opportunity here.

On a separate note, I’m still surprised that even with the Friedkins at the helm, the Giallorossi haven’t had a real American squad player since Michael Bradley (with apologies to Bryan Reynolds). A move for Tessman might not result in hype reels and breaking news notifications on Twitter, but Gasperini’s system is about maximizing tools and instincts, and Tessman might just have the right raw material at the right time.

We’ll have a lot more to say once Roma resolves it’s Financial Fair Play issues and once the summer transfer window opens on July 1st. Until then: where would you want Roma to throw most of their money this summer?