Roma director Tiago Pinto does not deny they are discussing a Leonardo Bonucci move in January, while confirming ‘the ball is in our court’ for Jose Mourinho.
The match with Napoli kicks off at the Stadio Olimpico at 19.45 GMT.
This becomes a huge test for both teams, who have fallen on hard times lately both in Serie A and their other competitions.
The Giallorossi drew with Fiorentina and lost to Bologna, while the Partenopei were humiliated 4-0 by Frosinone in the Coppa Italia on Tuesday.
“The calendar year covers two different seasons, so we will wait until the end of the season before evaluating how things have gone,” Tiago Pinto told DAZN.
“Winning the last home game of the year would be important. The Champions League race will keep going to the end with many teams who are in there. Even if Bologna do not have the same squad options as the others, they are still having a spectacular season. It is early days to predict who gets into the Champions League.”
There is a shortage in defence that will only get worse in January when Evan Ndicka is called up for Africa Cup of Nations duty, so there have been strong reports Roma will bring in Bonucci on loan from Union Berlin.
“I have always been clear on this situation, there is an area of the team where we are lacking players and that is in central defence.
“We also have Financial Fair Play parameters that do not allow us to go and choose many options. The transfer window is not open yet, we have time and I will not comment on the many names that have been mentioned in the papers. It’s possible some of them are accurate.”
Mourinho is only under contract until the end of the season, but this week came out and declared openly he wants to remain at the club in future.
“At this moment, the ball is in our court, so we have to play that ball inside the club and behind closed doors.”