The unrelenting rumour mill churns out a slew of names connected with Italy’s top clubs every day but only a small fraction of the innumerable speculative deals become a reality. While it’s unrealistic for Serie A’s big hitters to overhaul their squads in the upcoming transfer window, there will undoubtedly be activity in January.
Football Italia examines the positions the leading clubs in Italy need to address next month.
Inter
There are no obvious weaknesses in the Nerazzurri’s deep squad. Despite rumblings of discontent about the reliability of backup strikers Alexis Sanchez and Marko Arnautovic, the table toppers are on the hunt for a right-sided midfielder.
Colombia international Juan Cuadrado will be sidelined for the next three months after undergoing an operation on a long-term Achilles injury.
Regular right-wing back Denzel Dumfries has also been out of action which means Inter are likely to bring in at least one new player in January. The league leaders have set their sights on Canadian international Tajon Buchanan and will attempt to broker a deal with Club Brugge for the 24-year-old during the transfer window.
Juventus
The rejuvenated Bianconeri look set to bolster their midfield in January.
Massimiliano Allegri has navigated the Old Lady into title contention and would welcome a new man in the middle to amp up his squad. England international Kalvin Phillips, 28, has been continually mentioned as a Juve target.
The Manchester City player has been out of the picture for the reigning English Premier League champions and would relish the chance of more game time in Italy. Tottenham Hotspur’s Danish midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is also on Juve’s radar as a potential new recruit. Surely, the Bianconeri will need at least one central midfielder to cope with the suspensions of Paul Pogba and Nicolò Fagioli.
Milan
A defensive crisis forced coach Stefano Pioli into fielding left-sided wing-back Theo Hernandez as a makeshift central defender.
The Rossoneri should prioritize a new centre-back after injuries to Malick Thiaw, Pierre Kalulu and Simon Kjaer left Milan with no option but to play the ultra-attacking Hernandez in a distinctly unfamiliar role.
Right-back Davide Calabria has been the target of an outpouring of criticism this term, and if Milan is to maintain their place in the top four, they need to add an experienced and versatile defender. The Rossoneri may also look for a new striker despite Luka Jovic’s recent goals against Frosinone, Atalanta and Salernitana.
Napoli
The reigning Serie A champions have leaked goals at an alarming rate and urgently require a stopper to plug the gaps at the back.
The Partenopei failed to bring in an adequate replacement for title-winning defensive star Kim Min-Jae and have struggled to keep pace with the league leaders as a result.
Stalwarts Amir Rrahmani and Juan Jesus have formed an unsteady partnership in central defence as summer capture Natan has been gradually integrated into the Napoli first team. Much depends on just how much club president Aurelio De Laurentiis is prepared to spend in order to shore up Napoli’s faltering rearguard, but the club owner has already anticipated that he will try to sign a central defender, a right-back who can let Giovanni Di Lorenzo rest and a central midfielder to replace the departing Eljif Elmas.
Roma
Jose Mourinho has made it clear he requires a fresh face in defence when the January window opens.
Deprived of influential English centre-back Chris Smalling and Albanian international Marash Kumbulla through injury all season and with Evan N’Dicka involved in the AFCON in January, the Giallorossi need to boost their backline options.
Roma could shop in the English Premier League as Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea) and Eric Dier (Tottenham Hotspur) have been linked with moves to the capital club. Bound by strict budgetary limitations, Roma won’t break the bank as they seek a new defensive addition next month.
@SKasiewicz