Quiet transfer window for Napoli and Inter but title race continues without Kvaratskhelia | OneFootball

Serie A title contenders Napoli and Inter had a quiet January transfer window, but the Partenopei saw their star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia join Ligue 1 giants PSG, upsetting Antonio Conte for a lack of adequate replacement.

Kvaratskhelia’s transfer to PSG was one of the most expensive deals in the January transfer window, and Napoli opened talks with several potential replacements last month.

Alejandro Garnacho and Karim Adeyemi were among Conte’s favourite options, but Manchester United refused a €55m bid for the Argentinean winger, while Adeyemi reportedly snubbed the Partenopei while waiting for a Premier League move in the summer.

Quiet transfer window for Napoli and Inter but title race continues without Kvaratskhelia

Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Napoli shows his disappointment during the Serie A match between Napoli and SS Lazio at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on December 08, 2024 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Napoli also seemed close to signing Allan Saint-Maximin on loan from Al-Ahli but eventually picked Noah Okafor from Milan on loan with an option to buy.

Sky Sport reported on Monday that Conte was unhappy with the Napoli transfer activity as he had repeatedly demanded a replacement of the same level as Kvara to pursue Napoli’s title dreams.

The Partenopei remain the Serie A leaders with a three-point lead over Inter, who have a game in hand.

Both Napoli and Inter were nowhere near the biggest spenders in the winter transfer window.

Aside from Okafor, Napoli also welcomed Simone Scuffet from Cagliari, Luis Hasa from Lecce and Philip Billing from Bournemouth.

Inter only signed Nicola Zalewski on loan from Roma for the second part of the season but also secured a deal for Dinamo Zagreb talent Petar Sucic, who will join the Nerazzurri in 2025-26.

Although Zalewski already assisted De Vrij in the latest derby della Madonnina, it’s predictable that new signings may not have a massive impact on the title race. Unlike Milan and Juventus, neither Napoli nor Inter’s starting XIs are expected to change in the second half of the season.

The two clubs will meet in a key game for the Scudetto race at the Stadio Maradona on March 2.