Roma paid €23.5m plus add-ons for El Aynaoui, meaning the reported valuation would put the guaranteed return around €11.5m to €16.5m above the initial fee.
That financial gap explains why the Italian club is not treating the interest as a routine squad reshuffle. Any sale would also need to account for the add-ons and a percentage of a future transfer fee agreed with Lens.
With the player still early in his Roma career, the club can argue that his value has risen rather than fallen. The asking price is therefore both a market test and a signal that Roma will not be pressured into an immediate exit.
El Aynaoui’s profile has grown after his performances for Morocco at the 2026 World Cup. His 22 senior caps and tournament exposure have made him more visible to clubs outside Serie A.
The interest from England and Turkey appears to remain exploratory. Availability checks are common before a club decides whether to commit to a formal proposal, so United, Liverpool and Fenerbahçe have not yet demonstrated that they will meet Roma’s valuation.
For El Aynaoui, however, the range of clubs involved underlines the strength of his new market position.
Roma are also managing attention around Manu Koné, whose displays for France at the same tournament have increased scrutiny of the club’s midfield options. Losing both players would create a major structural issue, while selling one could provide funds for reinvestment.
The next stage will be whether preliminary contact develops into a written bid. Roma’s response should reveal whether the priority is to bank a sizeable profit or keep El Aynaoui as part of the team beyond the transfer window.