Roma’s offensive production is falling drastically short of their ambitions to qualify for the Champions League, with the team’s goal average of just 1.15 goals per match (15 goals in 13 games) deemed insufficient for a top-four finish.

Following the disappointing performance against Napoli, manager Gian Piero Gasperini has intensified his demand for two major reinforcements in January to address this crisis, with the primary focus on two highly-rated young forwards: Joshua Zirkzee and Mathys Tel, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The pursuit of Joshua Zirkzee remains a central theme for the Giallorossi. Though the Dutch striker is currently on the books at Manchester United, his future at Old Trafford is highly uncertain due to a lack of regular playing time. This precarious situation makes him a prime target for Roma, who see an opportunity to bring the prolific Serie A-familiar forward back to Italy, potentially on a loan deal with an obligation to buy. For Gasperini, Zirkzee is considered the ideal, high-impact center-forward capable of solving the club’s immediate goalscoring deficiencies.

Gasperini’s vision for a complete attacking overhaul also includes securing Tottenham’s young forward, Mathys Tel. The manager explicitly wants to bring in both Zirkzee and Tel to completely remodel the forward line. This strategy is driven by the fact that the club’s current attack is seen as unsustainable for the future, forcing the management to intervene immediately to acquire players who can deliver both present results and long-term quality, keeping their hopes of a Champions League return alive.