Napoli’s season is being planned in the quieter hours, with phones replacing meeting rooms and the club attempting to turn a restrained summer into a clearer direction for the months ahead. The market may appear still, but the work has not stopped: the champions are weighing immediate needs against a squad that will require renewal before next summer.
The coach and the club
Aurelio De Laurentiis, Massimiliano Allegri and sporting director Giovanni Manna have remained in contact through a series of remote planning discussions, despite last-minute travel difficulties. Their focus extends beyond the next window. Napoli know that, by June, around a dozen members of the group will be over 30, making a gradual reduction in the squad’s average age an important part of the club’s thinking.
The summer’s largely low-cost recruitment has left some unease around the club and in the wider league. Napoli have looked inward while several major Italian sides have altered the balance of the competition through their own strengthening. Reaching the Champions League places will demand more depth, energy and, where possible, additional quality.
There is no shortage of attacking options on either flank, yet the club are prepared to make room for an exceptional young player. The coming months could change the picture before January, and Napoli’s scouting network is continuing to examine opportunities in Italy and abroad.
Young profiles under observation
One player on Napoli’s radar is Asane Sow, the 20-year-old Italian-born winger of Senegalese heritage. Originally from Seriate, Sow developed through Pro Vercelli before making progress in Switzerland. His dribbling and ability to beat opponents have attracted attention, and Manna’s familiarity with Swiss football has helped Napoli follow his development closely.
The club had also spent months monitoring Issa Doumbia, who is set to turn 23 in a little over two weeks. That pursuit ended when Sporting Lisbon agreed a deal with Venezia worth about €20 million, with a further €3 million in potential bonuses. Napoli must now look elsewhere after missing a player they had studied extensively.
Midfield and defensive possibilities
In midfield, Napoli have retained several names for possible future movement, particularly if departures create openings. Mamadou Coulibaly, 22, is among the most highly rated options. The Monaco player is physically imposing, expensive and wanted by a number of clubs, but he remains of considerable interest.
Sebastian Szymanski is another profile being considered. The 27-year-old has played for Legia Warsaw, Dynamo Moscow, Feyenoord and Fenerbahce, and his versatility is seen as a useful quality. Napoli’s regular scouting work in France also keeps them close to developments involving players in that market.
At full-back, Dodò has not disappeared from the club’s thoughts. Napoli pursued the Fiorentina player for a long period, and his contract is due to expire next summer. Although the arrival of Favasuli has added a player able to cover more than one role, Dodò’s capacity to provide repeated running down the flank continues to invite reflection.
Udinese defender Oumar Solet is also likely to return to Napoli’s internal conversations. His name has been a persistent theme around the club, and the next phase of the season may bring more serious consideration as Napoli search for solutions that can improve the group now while also serving the future.
