Napoli, Manna working on midfield reinforcements: Atta emerges as an option | OneFootball

Napoli approaches the crucial match against Atalanta with one imperative: return to victory to consolidate their position in the league. However, their preparation is heavily affected by a true injury crisis, with the midfield severely depleted. The absences of André-Frank Zambo Anguissa and Kevin De Bruyne are a significant blow to Antonio Conte's tactical setup. The forecasts for their returns—Anguissa at the end of January and De Bruyne in February—cast shadows over the first part of the new year, making the need for action in the winter transfer market not just a possibility, but an operational priority.

Napoli, not just Mainoo for January: the Azzurri consider Pellegrini and McKennie

The two prolonged absences not only reduce rotation options but also deprive the coach of two fundamental pillars in terms of quality and physicality. Without them, the Azzurri midfield is under pressure, forcing Conte to constantly reassess the balance and overload the few players remaining available. This critical situation has inevitably turned the spotlight back on the upcoming January market, where the Neapolitan club will be called upon to find immediate solutions to avoid compromising their seasonal objectives. The search for reinforcement in the crucial area of the field is already in full swing, with several names circulating on the Azzurri management's list. The newspaper Il Mattino has strongly pushed the candidacy of Kobbie Mainoo, a young talent from Manchester United. The Englishman is an exciting prospect for his potential, but the operation is complex and costly: the Red Devils value their jewel at no less than 40 million euros. This amount alone would almost absorb the entire budget planned for the January session, making the deal extremely difficult to realize.

Therefore, Napoli is also exploring more economically accessible options. Among these stands out Arthur Atta, a revelation from Udinese, whose valuation is around a more manageable 20 million euros. However, Conte and the club's wish list is not limited to young and international profiles but also pays close attention to the Italian scene. Lorenzo Pellegrini, whose contract with Roma is expiring, and Morten Frendrup, a solid and versatile midfielder from Genoa, are being monitored with interest. Added to these is the option of Weston McKennie from Juventus. The future of the American is uncertain and under evaluation by Luciano Spalletti in a Juventus context, but his profile represents an alternative of experience and dynamism that could be useful to Napoli in this emergency.

Andrea Alati

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.