It’s been a forgettable summer so far for Napoli as they’ve suffered yet another huge blow in this transfer window. Following Lorenzo Insigne’s Serie A departure to the MLS in the US, the Partenopei have also bid farewell to Kalidou Koulibaly, who was sold to Chelsea for £34-M just recently.
Perhaps we might have to update the title of this previous SBOTOP article to: “So How are Napoli Post-Insigne and Koulibaly?” now, and we can only imagine the gloomy mood around in Naples.
Staying on the topic of transfers, Paulo Dybala and Gianluca Scamacca remain two of the hottest names in the transfer market as several clubs have lined up to bid for their services.
Let’s learn more about the latest in the Italian top-flight as we bring to you the top Serie A 2022 updates.
Napoli scrambling for replacements
With the departures of Kalidou Koulibaly and Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli now face the tough task of filling the gaps at the front and at the back.
Koulibaly and Insigne were vital cogs for Napoli in these past few years and they guided the Partenopei to third place last term to seal their return to the Champions League. In fact, at one point, Napoli were touted as serious Scudetto contenders by the Serie A 2022 odds alongside AC and Inter Milan but they fell short in the end.
Kalidou Koulibaly arrived from Genk in 2014 for just £6.5-M and he has established himself as one of the club’s all-time greats since no player has completed more passes (14,528), won more tackles (344), or made as many recoveries (1,716) in Serie A.
Lorenzo Insigne, meanwhile, made 416 appearances for Napoli – scoring 114 goals and 95 assists across all competitions. In his 11 seasons at Naples, the forward won three titles including the Supercoppa Italia in 2014/15 and the Coppa Italia in 2013/14 and 2019/20.
Both stars are entering their 30’s so they were looking for one more lucrative payday, but unfortunately the management was unable to give it to them – much to their supporters’ dismay.
Napoli are apparently eyeing Kim Min-Jae, Eric Bailly, or Francesco Acerbi to replace Koulibaly, while they’ve held talks with Dries Mertens for a new extension.
Mertens – who was the club’s third-leading scorer last term with 12 goals – has officially left the Partenopei earlier this month after his contract expired and he’s willing to stay in Italy, but his negotiations with the club have reached a stalemate.
Should neither party meet halfway, the 35-year-old forward will have suitors as Lazio, Royal Antwerp, and Marseille are all ready to take him.
AS Roma and Inter Milan fighting for Dybala
With AC Milan more focused on other objectives, the race for Paulo Dybala’s signature has boiled down to two teams in AS Roma and Inter Milan.
Inter were serious in getting the former Juve man, but their interest has seemingly waned because of their strikers surplus following the arrival of Romelu Lukaku. The Nerazzurri would have to offload the likes of Edin Dzeko and Alexis Sanchez to make room for Dybala.
AS Roma, on the other hand, are looking to make a lunge for the Argentine as they offered a four-year contract worth around €6-M per season with bonuses – which will make him the highest earner at the club.
Another club to look out for is Manchester United in the wake of the Cristiano Ronaldo bombshell, although no move has materialised thus far.
Paulo Dybala was in superb form for I Bianconeri last season, notching 10 goals and five assists in 29 Serie A matches.
West Ham enter the Scamacca sweepstakes
Recent headlines claim that the Hammers are inching closer to seal Gianluca Scamacca’s signature. The Premier League outfit has offered €40-M plus add-ons, to which Sassuolo have reportedly accepted.
This is a great move for the 23-year-old who is fresh from a stellar campaign with the Neroverdi last term, tallying 16 league goals in 33 matches.
PSG were once a suitor for him, but they have turned their focus to Hugo Ekitike instead, giving West Ham a huge boost.
Gianluca Scamacca is the ideal upgrade for Michail Antonio, who is approaching his late 30’s. The Jamaican veteran has been the Hammers’ No. 9 for quite some time now, but he has been injured and inconsistent lately. Other than Scamacca, West Ham are also pursuing Giacomo Raspadori in what could end up as a double move. Raspadori is Sassuolo’s third-leading scorer last term with 10 goals and five assists in all competitions.
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