Napoli may have a healthy seven-point lead atop the Serie A standings, but the Partenopei still have work to do to secure that long-awaited Scudetto.
That’s why they are looking to add reinforcements during this transfer window, with Morocco’s World Cup star Azzedine Ounahi one of their main targets.
Meanwhile, one Atalanta midfielder is on the move, with Ruslan Malinovskyi heading to Marseille. And another midfielder could follow him out the door as Teun Koopmeiners has reportedly attracted interest from Premier League giants Liverpool. Inter Milan also face interest from their defenders this transfer window.
Read on below as SBOTOP shares all the transfer news and speculation surrounding Serie A.
Napoli submit bid for Morocco’s Azzedine Ounahi
Napoli are still trying to work out a deal for midfielder Azzedine Ounahi as they look to strengthen their squad for the second half of the season.
The Partenopei had reportedly opened talks with Angers a couple of weeks ago and have recently submitted an offer of €15m for the 22-year-old, who starred for Morocco in the recently concluded World Cup.
Napoli have a settled three-man midfield of Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa, Stanislav Lobotka, and star playmaker Piotr Zielinski, with Tanguy Ndombele and Eljif Elmas coming off the bench. But neither Ndombele nor Elmas is quite as capable defensively, which would make Ounahi’s addition all the more vital for the Azzurri.
Ounahi reportedly prefers a move to Serie A, although he has also attracted interest from Premier League clubs such as Leicester City and Leeds United. But Napoli may struggle to beat out the two English clubs in a bidding war, so their chances of signing the rising star hang in the balance.
In other Napoli news, they secured their first signing of the winter last week in right-back Bartosz Bereszynski, who has arrived on loan from Lazio. Bereszynski won’t drastically alter Napoli’s Serie A 2023 betting odds, but he will provide much-needed cover for captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo.
Atalanta’s Malinovskyi moves on, Koopmeiners next?
One Atalanta midfielder has already moved on during this transfer window, and another might soon follow.
Ruslan Malinovskyi recently joined Marseille on a season-long loan, with an obligatory option to buy for €10 million in the summer.
The 29-year-old Ukrainian had spent the last three-plus seasons at Atalanta, scoring 23 goals and providing 22 assists in 115 Serie A appearances.
However, he had pushed to the periphery of the squad this season, with just 5 starts in 15 appearances, with 1 goal and 2 assists to his name.
Meanwhile, another Atalanta midfielder in Teun Koopmeiners could also be on the move as the Dutchman has been heavily linked with Liverpool.
Koopmeiners has been arguably Atalanta’s best player this season and has already provided plenty of Serie A 2023 highlights. He has 5 goals and 2 assists in 17 games, with his 1,475 minutes played far and away the most on the team.
Aside from his eye for goal, Koopmeiners is also a capable passer. He has been Atalanta’s primary progressive passer and shot creator.
But despite the recent speculation, top football insider Fabrizio Romano reports that Liverpool have yet to approach Atalanta for Koopmeiners as of now, and the Dutchman has expressed his desire to stay and play for La Dea.
Inter braced for interest in defenders Dumfries, Skriniar
Inter Milan expect to receive much interest in their defenders, right-back Denzel Dumfries and centre-back Milan Skriniar, this transfer window. There has been speculation that the two might leave back in the summer, and there will be no shortage of suitors for their services this winter.
Dumfries, who starred with the Netherlands in the World Cup alongside Koopmeiners, has been linked with a host of big clubs such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Barcelona.
Inter are reportedly willing to part with the wing-back for a fee of around $63.5 million fee, although it remains to be seen if any club will be willing to pay that price.
As for Skriniar, he was heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer and is now in the last few months of his contract. If Inter feel they cannot come to terms on a new long-term deal, they could be forced to sell – or they risk losing him on a free transfer in the summer. Other clubs will certainly test their resolve by making bids for the highly sought-after defender.
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