Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna admitted the Partenopei were “open to various solutions” in the January transfer window and raised questions over Romelu Lukaku, Lorenzo Luca, Scott McTominay and Noah Long ahead of Sunday’s Serie A clash with Lazio.
The Napoli executive spoke to DAZN ahead of the Serie A tie between Lazio and Napoli in the early hours of Sunday morning.
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You can follow updates from all Sunday’s Serie A matches on the Italian Football Live Blog.
Manna on Lazio vs. Napoli and January transfers
NAPLES, ITALY – DECEMBER 7: Rasmus Hoylund of SSC Napoli celebrates his team’s first goal with teammate David Neres during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Juventus at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on December 7, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)
Napoli have maintained a 3-4-3 formation against Lazio in Serie A on Sunday, although this is mainly due to a lack of replacement options in the midfield, with Kevin De Bruyne, Andre-France Zambo Anguissa and Billy Gilmour all unavailable.
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“We found alternatives in a moment of urgency. Now we have to find continuity of performance and then the results will follow,” Manner told DAZN.
With Lorenzo Luka out with the flu and Romelu Lukaku yet to recover from a long-term injury, Rasmus Hoylund is once again offered the central role.
“Romeru’s schedule has always been long, but it hasn’t been extended,” Manner explained. “We always say he needs to be patient, setbacks may be coming and we have to be cautious.
CASTLE SANGRO, Italy – AUGUST 14: Napoli’s Romelu Lukaku lies on the pitch after sustaining an injury during a pre-season friendly match between Napoli and Olympiacos on August 14, 2025 in Castello Sangro, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)
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“Lorenzo is the player we want. He had the flu today. We are open to various solutions and we do not exclude anything. We know the market conditions in which we have to operate.”
Manna was asked if Napoli could bring in a new midfielder during the January transfer window.
He replied: “We are waiting for Anguissa to return, he is an important player. We miss him very much. McTominay is proving that he can play a decisive role in this role. The coach will make his assessment. He has the ability to do it.”
As for whether Langer, signed in the summer, will exit early, Manner said: “Lange played two wonderful games. I am not saying that he is about to leave, but we can have great expectations for him.”
“We are sure that if he gets the opportunity, he will take it. We don’t do things for the sake of doing things, just to improve the team, otherwise we can’t do anything.”
