Christmas at the top of Serie A: transfer wishes of the top five managers | OneFootball

Christmas arrives with a Serie A more uncertain than ever. After 16 matchdays (15 for some teams involved in the Supercoppa), the top of the table is compressed within just four points: Inter leads with 33, Juventus follows at 29, with Milan, Napoli, and Roma acting as a cushion in between.

Christmas at the Top of Serie A: The Transfer Wishes of the Coaches of the Top Five

None of the big teams have managed to pull away, making the second half of the season wide open.

In this scenario of substantial balance, the January transfer window takes on enormous strategic importance. A targeted signing, in the right role, can change the hierarchy and become the decisive factor in the title race. For this reason, under the Christmas tree, each coach of the top five teams is nurturing a very specific wish. Let’s try to analyze them one by one, between tactical needs, transfer dreams, and economic obstacles.

Inter: Chivu Seeks Certainty on the Right Flank

At Inter, the emergency is clear and well-defined. Denzel Dumfries’ ankle surgery has sounded the alarm on the right wing, a crucial area in Cristian Chivu’s system. The prolonged absence of the Dutchman deprives the Nerazzurri of depth, physicality, and constant drive.

Luis Henrique, who arrived in the summer with the aim of providing reliable rotation, has shown signs of growth but has not yet fully convinced. The experiment of adapting Carlos Augusto to the right also failed to produce the desired results. Hence Chivu’s wish: “a ready, reliable right winger already accustomed to Serie A.”

The name that makes the coach and management dream is Marco Palestra, who is having a very positive season at Cagliari. The problem is Atalanta, who owns the 2005-born player’s contract and is notoriously reluctant to sell in January unless faced with an out-of-market offer. The alternative that cyclically comes back into fashion is Raoul Bellanova, a profile already known to the Nerazzurri environment and more accessible.

Milan: Allegri Strengthens the Attack but Also Thinks About Defense

Milan has decided to move early. Massimiliano Allegri has already received his first gift even before the official opening of the transfer window: Niclas Füllkrug. The German striker brings height, physical presence, and a presence in the box that the Rossoneri’s attack had been lacking.

Despite this, Allegri does not consider the job done. The Livorno-born coach continues to see the arrival of an experienced central defender as a priority, someone who can provide solidity and leadership to a department that has alternated good performances with sudden blackouts. Thiago Silva’s name has been explored, but it hasn’t fully excited the management.

The transfer window, however, is long and often unpredictable. “The right opportunity” could arise in the last weeks of January, especially if some European giant decides to trim their squad.

Napoli: Conte and the Midfield Emergency

The mood in Naples remains positive, thanks in part to the recent Supercoppa victory, but Antonio Conte has to deal with a complex situation in midfield. The Azzurri’s midfield has been decimated by injuries, with heavy absences ranging from Kevin De Bruyne to André-Frank Zambo Anguissa.

Conte’s wish is clear: “an immediate reinforcement in midfield.” Before the restrictions related to a zero-balance transfer market, the main target was Kobbie Mainoo, a young profile but already ready for top-level football. The new limitations, however, make the operation much more complicated. To land the English talent, Napoli would first have to free up space in the squad and on the balance sheet.

Despite the difficulties, the management remains vigilant: the feeling is that, even with less flashy solutions, a move in midfield will come.

Roma: Gasperini Wants Goals and Offensive Weight

Roma is among the most active clubs during the Christmas period. Gian Piero Gasperini’s priority is clear: increase offensive output and add more presence in the final third. Sporting director Massara is working on two parallel fronts.

On one side there’s Joshua Zirkzee, for whom talks are ongoing with Manchester United. On the other, Jack Raspadori, a concrete and perhaps more realistic target. In recent hours, contacts with Atletico Madrid have intensified: the Giallorossi’s idea is a loan with an obligation to buy, tied to sporting achievements such as Champions League qualification.

The Zirkzee track remains fascinating but complex. The Dutch striker would welcome a return to Serie A, but the departures of Mbeumo and Diallo for the Africa Cup of Nations have reduced United’s attacking options. Amorim would therefore prefer to keep the former Bologna player at least until the second half of January, making it a possible last-minute deal.

Juventus: Spalletti Dreams of a Tailor-Made Midfield

For Juventus, led by Luciano Spalletti, the situation is straightforward. The coach from Certaldo wants to shape the midfield according to his footballing principles, adding quality, dynamism, and alternative solutions. At the moment, Manuel Locatelli remains the only true playmaker in the squad.

The dream is named Morten Hjulmand, Sporting Lisbon’s deep-lying playmaker: an ideal profile for vision, intensity, and personality. The high cost of the Dane, however, makes the deal more likely in the summer than in January.

In the short term, Spalletti could “settle” for Davide Frattesi. Not a pure playmaker, but a box-to-box midfielder whom the coach knows how to get the best out of, following the path previously traced with players like Vecino and Nainggolan. His limited playing time at Inter makes a January departure anything but unlikely.

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