EMPOLI, ITALY - APRIL 24: André Frank Zambo Anguissa of SSC Napoli looks on during the Serie A match between Empoli FC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Carlo Castellani on April 24, 2022 in Empoli, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

Napoli Plotting to Add More Physical Players to Squad

Napoli used to be one of the least physical sides in the league, especially up front and among the Scudetto contenders. They relied on a false-nine under Maurizio Sarri. The trend started to change when they purchased Victor Osimhen. Plus, they added André-Franck Anguissa last summer. It will continue considering the departure of Lorenzo Insigne. The management plans to bring in more muscular players. Luciano Spalletti is fully on board with such strategy, La Gazzetta dello Sport informs.

The Cameroonian international will be bought out for €15M from Fulham in June following the loan spell. He has been a key part of the midfield and meshes well with Stanislav Lobotka, who might be a linchpin in 2022-2023. The Azzurri are considering cashing on Fabian Ruiz since his contract runs out in 2023. If that were the case, Napoli would go after a more dynamic and physical players, such as for instance Antonin Barak. They have a tight relationship with Verona that could help lower his €20M price tag.

They will re-up with Juan Jesus, but they wish to sign another center-back. The top options are two colossuses, Fenerbahce’s Min-Jae Kim and Southampton’s Jan Bednarek. The Partenopei have also laid their eyes on the giant Armando Broja, who fared well on loan from Chelsea to the Saints. Considering that he is not a highly-prolific scorer, he would not necessarily be Victor Osimhen’s replacement. They could go after him even if their star stayed, while one between Andrea Petagna and Dries Mertens did not.