Having reached this point in the championship, one is normally already at the halfway point, with the first leg games put in the drawer and the return games having started or about to start. It is in this market window that clubs start the so-called 'repair market', trying to plug those holes in the line-up resulting from disappointing performances, injuries or sudden disposals. This applies to all clubs, regardless of their position in the league table. It is obvious, however, that it is above all those at the bottom of the table that must move more if they want to avoid relegation to the lower division.
So far, according to the Serie A standings updated to matchday seventeen, those from whom one would expect an important market are Sampdoria, Verona and Cremonese, who stably occupy the last three positions in the standings without having managed to go into double figures yet. Above all, Cremonese is in dire need of a market aimed at acquiring a striker who can get them their first win of the season. However, an important market is also expected from the pursuers at the head of the championship, who not only have to run to catch up with Napoli, but also have goals related to Europe that need fresh forces and quality. But let's go in order.
The classification at the seventeenth day says: Napoli 44, Juventus and Milan 37, Inter 34, Lazio, Atalanta and Roma 31, Udinese 25, Fiorentina and Torino 23, Lecce, Bologna and Empoli 19, Salernitana and Monza 18, Sassuolo 16, Spezia 15, Verona and Sampdoria 9, Cremonese 7. Considering this, let's look at the main movements of the winter football market starting from the last positions.
Cremonese, as we have said, absolutely need to score their first league victory if they hope to climb out of the bottom of the ravine they have been in since the beginning of the championship. Despite not having the worst defence nor the worst attack, it struggles to win, and the seven draws it has obtained are perhaps a symptom of a lack of character. Character that could come from an experienced forward, perhaps from among those released around the European minor leagues. But so far, the “grigiorosso” market has focused on defence, with the addition of Alex Ferrari on loan with right of redemption from Sampdoria.
And Sampdoria, for its part, is one of the most active clubs in the market. In addition to Alex Ferrari, it has also sold Caputo to Empoli and Bereszynski to Napoli, to buy Nuytinck from Udinese, Lammers from Empoli and Zanoli from Napoli. Verona is also moving little, having so far only let Mateusz Praszelik go on loan. Spezia are also among the most active teams, especially to ward off the relegation odds compared by bookmakerstranieri.net. Portuguese João Moutinho, a defender with Orlando City until the end of December 2022, has already signed a three-year contract and made his league debut against Atalanta in the 17th league game. Salvatore Esposito, a midfielder born in 2000, has also joined the 'Aquilotti', on loan from SPAL.
No movement so far for Sassuolo, while Monza have sold Antonis Siatounis to Virtus Entella in Serie C. Salernitana sold Micai to Cosenza and took experienced Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa from América and Hans Nicolussi Caviglia on loan from Juventus. Empoli, we said, have only moved with Sampdoria in the Lammers-Caputo exchange, while Bologna are still at a standstill with their movements. Lecce sold Brayan Vera to the Colombian club América de Cali and took Moroccan midfielder Youssef Maleh on loan from Fiorentina. No market, instead, for Torino.
Fiorentina also did not seem to want to disrupt Vincenzo Italiano's squad beyond the transfer, while Udinese sold Nuytinck to Sampdoria and bought and then sent on loan to Watford Matheus Martins from Fluminense (the striker is a class 2003). Roma sold Filippo Tripi to Slovenian side NS Mura and took Norwegian striker Ola Solbakken from Bodø/Glimt (already bought in December but available to Mourinho from 2 January). Atalanta only moved out, selling Capone to Reggiana and Malinovskyi to Marseille, as did Lazio, who sold Kamenovic to Sparta Prague. Nothing to report for Inter and Juventus, while AC Milan sell Capanni to Arka Gdynia and take Colombian goalkeeper Devis Vasquez from Guaranì.
Finally, we close with Napoli, who only point out the two movements mentioned above, namely the sale of Alessandro Zanoli on loan to Sampdoria in exchange for the loan of Bartosz Bereszynski.