10 Serie A players who could move in January

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 5 Jan 2023 16:47 GMT
• 5 min read

Serie A is no longer able to break the world transfer record on an annual basis like it used to during its heyday in the 1980s and 1990s.

However, the Italian league remains one of the best in Europe at developing the most supreme talent around. Just take Napoli, whose new season signings Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and Kim Min-Jae have taken Europe by storm.

This January, we can expect some more interesting deals - both in terms of players moving from one Serie A club to another, and those leaving Italy altogether.

Below are 10 players at Serie A clubs we should keep an eye on during the winter transfer window.

Adrien Rabiot (Juventus)

Adrien Rabiot’s contract at Juventus expires at the end of the season and it is looking increasingly likely he will leave in 2023.

Rabiot’s outstanding World Cup means his salary demands have increased further, making a new deal even less likely.

Juventus manager Max Allegri would like to keep Rabiot until the end of the season as he has been one of the team’s few good performers in 2022-23.

But there is strong interest from the Premier League, especially from Man Utd, and Juve could decide to sell to avoid losing him for nothing.

Weston McKennie (Juventus)

Juventus are likely to sell a central midfielder in January as they have far too many players in this department.

The emergence before the World Cup of youngsters Fabio Miretti and Nicolo Fagioli has seen McKennie’s status take a hit.

Unpopular with most Juve fans, McKennie does have a lot of interest in the Premier League. Tottenham transfer chief Fabio Paratici - who signed him for Juventus in 2020 - is interested.

Rick Karsdorp (Roma)

Rick Karsdorp is almost certain to leave Roma in the January transfer window after a very public falling-out with manager Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho publicly accused Karsdorp of being unprofessional following the 1-1 draw with Sassuolo and things then spiraled out of control after that.

The coach told the Dutch right-back to find a new club in January, and the player himself wants out too.

Juventus are among the clubs who have been offered Karsdorp.

Diego Demme (Napoli)

Napoli have dominated Serie A this season, going into the new Year eight points clear at the top of the table.

Their wonderful midfield of Stanislav Lobotka, Andre Zambo-Anguissa and Piotr Zielinski has been key in their success.

As a result, holding midfielder Diego Demme has barely got a look-in. The Germany international wants more regular playing time, and both Salernitana and Bologna are said to be interested in taking him on loan.

Luis Alberto (Lazio)

Luis Alberto and Maurizio Sarri have never seen eye-to-eye ever since the former Chelsea manager took over in Rome in 2021.

The elegant but slow Alberto doesn’t quite fit into Sarri’s fast-moving, high pressing style of football, meaning he has not always played regularly.

Sevilla were interested in signing the Spaniard in the summer and could now make a new bid in January as a replacement for Isco, who they released on a free transfer in December.

Sofyan Amrabat (Fiorentina)

Sofyan Amrabat was arguably the best midfielder at the 2022 World Cup as he put in a series of indomitable performances for Morocco.

The 26-year-old played a key role in Morocco going all the way to the semi-finals, and this naturally has led to interest from many of Europe’s biggest clubs.

Liverpool, PSG and Atletico Madrid are all believed to be big fans of the Fiorentina star, whose contract expires in 2024.

Fiorentina plan to keep him until the summer but if a huge offer comes in during the January window, can they resist?

Robin Gosens (Inter)

Inter were hailed a year ago when they signed Robin Gosens for less than €30m from Atalanta during the January 2022 window.

Gosens had been one of the best wing-backs in Europe over the previous couple of years but he has struggled at Inter.

The German would like to leave in order to play regularly - as he is behind Federico Dimarco in the pecking order.

Inter director Piero Ausilio insists that Gosens is not for sale but this is a player to watch in January.

Milan Skriniar (Inter)

Milan Skriniar’s contract expires at San Siro at the end of the season and time is running out for Inter to extend his deal.

This has alerted a number of major clubs around Europe, who will be able to start negotiating a pre-contract with Skriniar from January.

Inter have confirmed that they have made Skriniar a big contract offer and are optimistic he will sign.

Skriniar is understood to be happy at San Siro, where he is a club symbol. But with the deal still not signed and with Inter needing to make a €50m transfer profit by the end of June, will they consider selling if a big offer is made?

PSG have made no secret of their desire to buy Skriniar, while Premier League clubs such as Man City and Chelsea have also been linked.

Ruslan Malinovsky (Atalanta)

Ruslan Malinovskyi is likely to leave Atalanta during the January transfer window, for two main reasons.

First of all, his contract expires at the end of the season and neither club nor player have any intention to extend.

Secondly, Malinovskyi does not get on with manager Gian Piero Gasperini, who doesn’t feel the Ukrainian fits into his system.

Joakim Maehle (Atalanta)

Following a brilliant Euro 2020 last year, Joakim Maehle was a disappointment along with the rest of the Denmark team at the World Cup.

But he remains very highly rated, despite not always hitting the heights for Atalanta.

Juventus are searching for a new right and left full-back in 2023, and Maehle is high up on their shortlist along with the aforementioned Karsdorp.