As the winter January transfer window approaches, which feels mere weeks after the closing of the summer one, the transfer rumours will once again ramp up; kicked into high gear by newspapers and websites seeking clicks.
Yet there can be little doubt that deals will be done in the month. Clubs in the main don’t like doing business in January due to it being in the middle of a campaign and players valued at a premium.
As regards to Serie A, clubs have been especially frugal in recent years, with the exception being Juventus paying $88m for Dusan Vlahovic nearly two years ago. The same can mostly be expected this winter, with money among the top sides in Serie A a scarce commodity. Yet deals on a small scale could be done, but much will depend on which sides are able to shift players on and thus receiving money to spend.
But which clubs need to strengthen in the winter window in Italy? For current champions Napoli, it’s arguable that a Kim Min-Jae replacement is badly needed, with the South Korean’s absence in the heart of defence one of the main reasons for their disastrous attempt at retaining the title. Napoli also look leggy in midfield, with the trio of Stanislav Lobotka, Piotr Zielinski and Franck-Zambo Anguissa barely receiving a break. The lack of genuine options in midfield has also hurt the champions this season, and club president Aurelio De Laurentiis could reinvest some of the money that looks set to be coming his way with Eljif Elmas apparently set to leave the club for the Bundesliga.
Inter, meanwhile, look a near-certainty to win their 20th Scudetto this season after blowing most of the league away in the opening half of the season. Simone Inzaghi has by far the best squad in the division at his disposal, but the depth isn’t as deep as most assumed at the beginning of the season. When Inzaghi has tended to rotate his side in Champions League and Coppa Italia games, the results haven’t been too good. Inter were 3-0 down against Benfica with their second strong team, only for Inzaghi to bring on his heavy-hitters, and the game finished in a 3-3 draw. Moreover, the shock Coppa Italia exit to Bologna was due to Inzaghi’s rotation, and the Italian coach may ask for better alternatives in the winter. According to a La Gazzetta dello Sport, a deal for Club Brugge defender Tajon Buchanan has been agreed, with Buchanan thought to be a cover for Juan Cuadrado, with the Colombian ruled out for the next several months with an achilles injury.
Inter may strengthen in attack should either of Alexis Sanchez or Marko Arnautovic leave. Both have been second choice for Inter this season and one of them may leave in order to find more football, with the pair in their mid-30s at this stage. But on the whole things are likely to stay as they were for the league leaders.
For Juventus, it was thought that a new midfielder would be arriving due to the suspensions of Paul Pogba and Nicolo Fagioli, yet with Juve having no European football and and facing only one game per-week, there isn’t the demand on Max Allegri’s squad as there would be in normal seasons. Allegri is confident of making sure Juve finish in the top four and qualify for the Champions League with what he has, and any signings in midfield may be delayed until the summer.
What about Milan? The Rossoneri are having an up and down season with injuries playing a massive part in their inability to string a run of wins together. A new defender is needed with Fikayo Tomori set to be out of action for more than two months and Malick Thiaw also out, meaning coach Stefano Pioli has no first choice centre backs post-Christmas. Luka Jovic’s recent goals means Milan could hold off until the summer in terms of buying another striker.
Jose Mourinho’s Roma, meanwhile, could buy in January, but with the side from the capital walking a financial tightrope and hamstrung by FFP, it remains to be seen where the club will get the money to buy the players needed. Should money be found, a new defender could be signed to replace Chris Smalling, with the Englishman having featured only three times this year and struggling to regain his fitness.
With finances extremely tight at the summit of the Italian game, don’t expect too much movement, with targets and lists to be compiled for moves next summer, but there will be a shrewd purchase or two.