Roma director Tiago Pinto insists they will not be signing another defender, while Nicolò Zaniolo ‘realises this is the right environment for him to grow’ and extend his contract.
The game with Udinese kicks off at the Dacia Arena in Udine at 19.45 UK time (18.45 GMT).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the LIVEBLOG.
The Giallorossi went into this weekend as joint Serie A leaders with Atalanta on 10 points and hope to keep that run going in Friuli this evening.
Injuries as always are piling up, with Stephan El Shaarawy and Marash Kumbulla joining Nicolò Zaniolo, Georginio Wijnaldum and Ebrima Darboe on the treatment table.
Jose Mourinho made it clear he wanted another centre-back, especially after the Kumbulla injury, but Tiago Pinto told DAZN that seems improbable even for a free agent.
“I don’t like interviews much, but I spent a long time in a press conference explaining our strategy. The transfer market is closed, we have seven games before the break for the World Cup, we know there will be difficulties, but we trust that our qualities will bring us results.
“I am frankly tired of the transfer market right now, so we need a bit of a rest.”
The window has shut, so the focus now moves on to Zaniolo and negotiations for a contract extension.
“I saw that video of him singing and that makes the contract extension more difficult, we can’t sign a singer-player! Only joking,” smiled Tiago Pinto, referring to Zaniolo complete with shoulder brace going on stage with Antonello Venditti to sing the Roma anthem.
“We have a great rapport with Nicolò, everyone recognises he is a great asset for the club, while he also realises that Roma are the right environment to help him grow and protect him when things go wrong.”