It’s the second part of The Cult of Calcio’s transfer ratings, where we rate the summer transfer campaign of every Serie A club in the 2020-2021 season. After analyzing the transfer market of the top 7 clubs in Part one, it’s time to take a look at the mid-table clubs.
Sassuolo
It’s been a relatively quiet summer at Sassuolo, as the Neroverdi kept their squad mostly intact, avoiding the sales of their stars players Jeremie Boga and Manuel Locatelli, while maintaining Vlad Chiriches, Filippo Romagna and Gergoire Defrel on permanent deals.
Transfers Rating – 7.5/10
If it’s not broken don’t fix it. Maintaining last season’s excellent squad was definitely the right policy for Sassuolo who finished last season in the 8th position as the unofficial “best of the rest”, and Roberto De Zerbi’s young and ever improving side will try to sneak in into the European spots this time around.
Hellas Verona
Hellas Verona had a busy transfer session, as they had to replace some of their key players from last season who departed in the summer including Sofyan Amrabat, Marash Kumbulla and Amir Rrahmani. The 1985 Italian champions ended up signing midfielders Marco Benassi, Adrien Tameze, Antonin Barak, and Ronaldo Vieira, defenders Federico Ceccherini and Mert Cetin, and in attack they decided to bet on the young Andrea Favilli and the veteran Nikola Kalinic.
Transfers Rating – 7/10
Losing at least three key players from last season was mostly a forced decision, but no one can fault Verona for their lack of effort in attempting to replace these players while also adding to the squad’s depth. While the final grades remain to be decided based on the results on the pitch, the management have done their part.
Fiorentina
The highlight of Fiorentina’s transfer campaign can only be selling Federico Chiesa to Juventus, but president Rocco Commisso made sure to bolster his side prior to the departure of his star player, signing several Serie A veterans including Jose Callejon, Giacomo Bonaventura, and the returning Borja Valero, as well as Sofian Amrabat, Antonio Barreca, and Alfred Duncan.
Transfers Rating – 7/10
While the Viola fans have been angered with the Chiesa sale, a move to a bigger club was inevitable at this point for the 22-year-old winger. But Fiorentina’s calciomercato can be considered a success in general, as this year’s squad looks overall better than last season’s. Drops some points for failing to sign a much-needed classic number 9.
Parma
Parma were almost non-existent during the transfer market, exclusively focusing on securing some of last season’s loanees on a permanent basis, including the likes of Roberto Inglese, Hernani, Luigi Sepe, and Yan Karamoh, and finally spending some money on some young players at the end of the market, signing Valentin Mihaila, Maxime Busi, and Simon Sohm.
Transfers Rating – 5/10
Although consistency never hurts, Parma would have done well to bring in some new exciting names to the club instead of unproven and unknown youngsters, as it is unlikely that any of them would be able to replace their departing star from last season Dejan Kulusevski.
Bologna
Director Walter Sabatini was barely given any funds to spend during the summer, with young left-back Aaron Hickey being his most prolific signing. On the other flank, veteran Lorenzo De Silvestri joined Bologna on a free transfer.
Transfers Rating – 5.5/10
Probably because of the Covid-19 related economical crisis, but Bologna largely failed to enhance their squad during the summer. Perhaps the only positives taken for the Rossoblu is the fact that they are able to maintain their best players – the likes of Ricardo Orsolini, Musa Barrow, and Roberto Soriano – as well as their manager Sinisa Mihajlovic.
Udinese
After Watford’s relegation to the championship, the Pozzo family have turned their attention back to Udinese as Roberto Pereyra and Ignacio Pussetto make the return from England to Udine, joined by the former Milan winger Gerard Deulofeu. Star-man Rodrigo De Paul once again remains with the Zebrette despite being linked with a host of European clubs as Seko Fofana is the only major midfielder who ends up leaving this summer, and will be replaced by newcomers Jean-Victor Mokenngo and Tolgay Arslan.
Transfers Rating – 6.5/10
While Udinese’s current squad is far from being comparable to the side led by Antonio Di Natale 10 years ago, the arrival of the Watford trio could be a step in the right direction, even though the club is still lacking for quality in midfield and defense.
Cagliari
Radja Nainggolan’s return to Cagliari has been unceremoniously cut after the collapse of the negotiations between the Isolani and Inter. On a more positive note, veteran Diego Godin will add some much needed experience to Cagliari’s defense and Ricardo Sottil joins on loan from Fiorentina. Marco Rog and Giovanni Simeone have made their moves permanent after initially joining on loan one year ago.
Transfers Rating – 6/10
While Cagliari’s calciomercato wasn’t particularly a bad one, the botched Nainggolan deal will loom its shadow on an otherwise decent transfer campaign.