Napoli Better Not Waste Their Golden Ticket This Summer | OneFootball

Football economics aren’t that straightforward, but Napoli are in the enviable position of being able to bolster their squad that has already been successful through the sales of players who are no longer part of it. Khvicha Kvaratskhelia wasn’t replaced in January. There are very good chances they’ll get as much as they demand for Victor Osimhen. It’d obviously be better if that saga ended sooner rather than later, but it’s still a big fat bonus.

The Large Budget

Some projections about how much they will spend are probably overblown. We’ll see about that when it’s all said and done. Still, their coffers are surely full. After all, Antonio Conte didn’t stay just out of the goodness of his heart or due to the emotional connection with their fans. He did it because he believes they are the team best positioned to win. Plus, he received reassurances that his transfer market-related requests will be met.

Deciding how to invest a large budget is a champagne problem, but it’s still something to ponder very carefully. It’s not a coincidence that their negotiations aren’t exactly proceeding at a breakneck pace. They aren’t going to throw money away and will do business on their terms as much as possible. Other than Luca Marianucci, whose arrival was set up well in advance, they have only signed Kevin De Bruyne. It was a no-brainer despite some tactical reservations, and they needed to act quickly due to his free-agent status.

Napoli aren’t new to tending to several deals that are mutually exclusive. It’s too early to tell how the entire picture will look in the end. They can’t have the same result as in the past window, when they chased after several high-profile wingers but came up basically empty-handed, adding only Noah Okafor on loan.

The New Center-Forward

The Azzurri need a striker, as Romelu Lukaku won’t be able to do it on his own following their Champions League return. While he’s a unique specimen, he’s not a spring chicken. The question is how much to invest in a role where they already have one of their best contributors, who is probably not going to rest much, when instead they have more glaring holes. It’s obvious that they are looking for a potential heir, not too far down the line, and not just a deputy/co-starter next season.

The reports about Darwin Nunez’s valuation are murky, but generally vary from just at the edge of what Serie A teams are comfortable spending for super-duper coups to simply out of reach. While Conte is a safe bet to revitalize and bring the best out of any player he puts his hands on, if they are going to splurge, it should be for somebody who comes in without any question mark or baggage. Lorenzo Lucca is perfectly fine, but the happy medium is between those two targets.

Looking only at the numbers, Napoli could indeed use more scoring, but that’s relative, as they were superb defensively. Lukaku and their box-to-box midfielders held up their end of the bargain there. Instead, they could use more production from the wings. All in all, it doesn’t feel like the center-forward position should be the one where to make the biggest splash. Plus, onboarding a top-notch no.9 would lead to a schematic conundrum that could eventually hurt other additions or players in general.

The Wings

The Azzurri have an elite XI, but other than a pair of pieces, their bench leaves a lot to be desired. Once the dust settles, their recent title will be viewed as an incredible feat, given the gap, at least depth-wise, with Inter. That’s where they should utilize most of their ammo. Not just because they’ll have a busier schedule, but to be competitive in Europe, where Conte still has something to prove.

Their director is well aware of that, and the talks to add two wingers, one center-back, and one right-back are ongoing. Considering their unexpected tactical versatility and the addition of De Bruyne, one speedster, if it were a proven weapon like Dan Ndoye or Federico Chiesa, would suffice. Matteo Politano and David Neres aren’t going anywhere. It’d be nice if Giacomo Raspadori were considered an asset and not an afterthought for a change. It’s still unclear where they are going to put the Belgian star on a regular basis, but deploying Scott McTominay wide in tactical fashion in a 4-2-3-1 had sound results. Not overcrowding their frontline would give them more flexibility and keep everybody happy and engaged.

Other Needs

A third reliable center-back is a top priority. Sam Beukema would be a fantastic acquisition, but they can also aim a little lower and hope for better health for Alessandro Buongiorno, whose injury woes were surprising given his previous track record, and that Luca Marianucci convinces Conte and continues growing as quickly as he’s done in the second half of last season. They can go young and relatively cheap to back up Giovanni Di Lorenzo. Sevilla’s Janlu Sanchez is reportedly the name now, Gianluca Di Marzio reports, but it won’t be hard to find one. It wouldn’t hurt to also bring in a left-back with offensive prowess, but they already have two okay options there.

Instead, conspicuously missing from the Napoli list of targets is a muscular midfielder, at least since the Yunus Musah deal collapsed. It looks like they dodged a bullet, and Frank Anguissa will stay after all. Still, another powerhouse is necessary, as he and McTominay, who had their fair share of dings and bruises last season, can’t shoulder the load solo for a whole campaign, plus there’ll be AFCON during the winter. All the specialists they are reportedly eyeing are technical playmakers rather than physical and gritty. There’s time, and money, to pivot and make the squad really whole and well-assorted.