Napoli Suffer Another Midfield Blow, Face Difficulties | OneFootball

The Napoli midfield will be down to bare bones in the next few matches, as Stanislav Lobotka has joined Frank Anguissa, Kevin De Bruyne, and Billy Gilmour on the sidelines due to a left tibialis posterior muscle problem.

His injury isn’t as severe as those suffered by his teammates, but it comes at a particularly inopportune time. He’ll likely stay on the mend until the Supercoppa in mid-December, Sky informed.

Another absence will only heighten the urgency to find one or more new pieces at the position in January, Tuttomercatoweb reports. Kobbie Mainoo remains in pole position. Napoli have tendered a loan with an option to buy and are waiting for Manchester United’s answer. The player is keen on the move.

The Partenopei have added Leon Goretzka to their shortlist. His contract expires at the end of the campaign. His January exit is unlikely, but the scenario could always change.

The Azzurri continue to keep tabs on Lorenzo Pellegrini. His extension talks with Roma have gone nowhere. Instead, they’ll have trouble luring three other targets: Davide Frattesi, Arthur Atta, and Morten Frendrup. Inter, Udinese, and Genoa plot to keep them. They might perhaps have some chances for the last one, but they’d have to lodge a huge offer.

Our Take on the Napoli Midfield

They’ll have to bite the bullet for a few games, hoping that fatigue won’t catch up with their other contributors, who will have to log heavy minutes. Their new scheme has looked good, and Scott McTominay has been dominant in a more defensive role, but it’ll be a challenge without Lobotka pulling the strings. As for the January window, any healthy body would help at this point, no matter his traits.